Doncic, Lendeborg exchange heated words: “I lost all respect for him”
Doncic and Lendeborg trade plenty of trash talk during Lakers-Warriors. And afterward, the rookie doesn’t hold back
The first matchup of the season between the Lakers and Warriors heats up thanks to some trash talk between Luka Doncic and Yaxel Lendeborg. The Golden State rookie tries to provoke the Slovenian star, who responds in his own way and leads Los Angeles to a 127-105 victory.
It all happens with fewer than three minutes left before halftime and the Lakers leading 53-48. Doncic draws a foul and appears to address Lendeborg directly, getting straight to the point:
What’s wrong? You can’t guard me?
Luka Doncic
Lendeborg was immediately called back to the bench, but Luka kept going after him: after hitting a midrange jumper, he pointed at him, taunting him to get back on the court.
Get back here, sissy. I WANT MORE!
Luka Doncic
And to think that during the preseason, Lendeborg had admitted to being pretty intimidated by the prospect of guarding Doncic:
I tried to play it cool, like I wasn’t intimidated. But I was. My mind was racing
Yaxel Lendeborg
After facing him, though, he seems to have changed his mind completely. And the rookie’s words leave little room for interpretation:
I respected him a lot… but being out there firsthand and seeing all his complaining. I lost all respect for him
Yaxel Lendeborg
Right now, Doncic takes the first round, but this story might not be over. The Lakers and Warriors meet again on October 30 in the NBA Cup, and after what happened, it’s a safe bet the two will have more to say to each other.