Yaxel Lendeborg on Luka Dončić: ‘I’ve lost all respect for him’
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 21: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors & Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game on October 21, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Yaxel Lendeborg made headlines during his debut NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Was it all for the right or wrong reasons? That’s up to you.

A tall task was given Lendeborg during his first official game at the highest level of professional basketball: guarding one of the league’s best players in Luka Dončić.

Given Dončić’s penchant for trash talk and Lendeborg’s refusal to back down from challenges, two strong personalities would inevitably clash — and clash they did.

Trying to go at one of the league’s preeminent scorers — who, by the way, is infamously fueled by trash talk — is a bold move from the rookie. Although it wasn’t primarily due to Lendeborg’s defense (Gui Santos spent considerable reps on the Slovenian superstar), Dončić did end up scoring 28 points, albeit on an inefficient 7-of-18 from the field. But through the use of his foul-baiting trickery, Dončić did end up going to the line plenty, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe, which allowed him to finish with a respectable 63.8% true shooting clip.

The highlight of the Lendeborg-Dončić feud on the court came on a half-court heave to end the first half:

Off the court, Lendeborg — known for his blunt postgame quotes with nary a filter applied — was asked about his verbal altercation with Dončić. Suffice to say, he did not mince words:

Might I remind everyone: the Warriors and the Lakers play three more times this regular season. With what happened tonight, the next couple of tilts will be must-watch TV — if only for the continuation of this budding feud.

What was not must-watch TV, however, was the Warriors’ performance, in which they were blown out easily by a Lakers squad led by Dončić and Austin Reaves. Granted, the Warriors were missing approximately $100 million in salary tonight — but they will continue to miss a considerable chunk of their important personnel for a considerable chunk of the regular season.

If this portends the upcoming season, it’ll be a long one, indeed.

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