Warriors Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Blasts Luka Doncic Over Flopping And Whining

I lost all respect for him, man, Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said after his team dropped a 127-105 season opener to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, tsn.ca reported.

The blowout loss in Los Angeles marked the professional debut for Lendeborg, who started on the wing for an injury-depleted Warriors squad missing Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Assigned to guard Lakers superstar Luka Doncic, the 24-year-old rookie found himself engaged in a trash-talk feud with the star. Doncic finished the game with 28 points in three quarters, powering L.A. to a commanding 35-point lead before coasting to victory.

Rookie Defends Doncic and Decries Whining

Lendeborg held his own during initial defensive sequences, holding Doncic to 1-of-6 shooting as his primary defender according to ESPN tracking stats. Tempers boiled over late in the second quarter when Doncic pump-faked the rookie into a shooting foul near the top of the key and jawed at him after the whistle. That was awful, Lendeborg said. Me getting frustrated, it’s not about the foul being called, it’s about him complaining the entire game, Lendeborg said according to NBC News.

The rookie admitted he enjoyed watching Doncic highlights before entering the league, but his on-court experience completely altered his perspective. A lot of flopping, a lot of foul-baiting, a lot of praying to the ref, man, Lendeborg told reporters after the final buzzer.

Half-Court Buzzer-Beater Caps Lakers First-Half Surge

The escalation continued just before halftime when official James Capers slapped Lendeborg with a technical foul after the rookie yelled at Doncic in transition. As time expired in the second quarter, Doncic drained a 48-foot half-court heave off the backboard right in Lendeborg’s face to push the Lakers’ lead to 14 points, punctuating the shot by pointing and laughing at the nearest defender.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr weighed in on the sequence, calling the single technical foul on Lendeborg ridiculous given the mutual jawing, while noting that Doncic should have also received a technical for getting in the rookie’s face. Doncic offered a calm postgame assessment of the fiery exchange, telling reporters that while the rookie was talking crazy, he chose not to engage because he is trying to avoid technical fouls this season. He was talking crazy, but I wasn’t trying to talk back this season, Doncic said of Lendeborg.

Warriors Roster Backs Lendeborg Ahead of San Francisco Rematch

Despite the rookie drawing scrutiny for his four fouls and unfiltered postgame comments, veteran teammate Draymond Green voiced complete support for Lendeborg’s aggressive approach. Yahoo Sports reported that Stephen Curry also backed the first-round pick, praising his competitive fire and confidence on the big stage. Stephen Curry paced Golden State with 23 points in the game, while Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg chipped in 12 points in his debut.

What’d he learn? The next time he see him, go at his ass again, Green said of the rookie’s baptism by fire. Stephen Curry also weighed in by stating: I love confidence, I love that care and passion. From what I’ve seen from him, it’s about just playing basketball.

A Warriors official then steered Lendeborg away from further comments as the rookie and Doncic prepare to meet again on Oct. 30 in San Francisco, setting up a rematch for the rivalry.

More on Warriors: Warriors Exploring Options to Trade Kristaps Porzingis