Warriors Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Says He ‘Lost All Respect’ for Luka Doncic Over Foul-Begging
After the Warriors’ 127-105 season-opening loss to the Lakers, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg didn’t hold back. He straight-up said he lost all respect for Luka Doncic because of how the star player begs for foul calls. ‘I used to watch his highlights and think he was killer,’ Lendeborg admitted. ‘But seeing him up close, all the whining and complaining? Respect gone.’
In his NBA debut, Lendeborg started on the wing and guarded Doncic for most of the game. He actually did okay, holding Doncic to just 1-of-6 shooting when he was the main defender. But the Lakers’ offense was on fire anyway, racking up 32, 34, and 36 points in the first three quarters to build a huge lead.
Things got heated in the second quarter when Doncic pump-faked Lendeborg into a shooting foul and then talked trash about it. Lendeborg called it ‘weak as hell’ and said it threw him off because he had so much respect for Doncic. The rookie even got a technical for yelling at him, saying, ‘You can’t score on me, but you talk all that junk.’
Doncic had the last laugh though, hitting a crazy 48-foot half-court shot as time expired, then pointing and laughing at Lendeborg. Coach Steve Kerr thought the tech was ridiculous, saying both players were jawing and Doncic should’ve gotten one too for mocking after the shot.
Lendeborg has never been shy about his opinions. On draft night, he admitted he used to hate Steph Curry because he was a Kyrie Irving fan. Kerr and the Warriors love his fire, and Draymond Green backed him up, saying rookies shouldn’t walk on eggshells around stars. ‘Go at his ass again next time,’ Green joked.
The Warriors and Lakers will face off again on October 30 in San Francisco. Lendeborg summed it up: ‘This is the NBA, man. Lots of flopping, foul baiting, and praying to the refs. Quite the first game.’
