One rookie’s NBA debut ended in a loss, a technical foul and a new rivalry.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said he lost all respect for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic after the Lakers beat the Warriors 127 to 105 on opening night, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
Why did Yaxel Lendeborg criticize Luka Doncic?
Yaxel Lendeborg said he admired Doncic before entering the league, mostly from watching highlights of him dominating opponents. Seeing him up close changed that, he said, because of what he described as constant whining and complaining to officials.
He said his frustration was not about any single foul call but about Doncic complaining throughout the game. He later described the NBA as full of flopping, foul baiting and pleading with referees.
How did Yaxel Lendeborg defend Doncic?
With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody injured, the Warriors started Lendeborg on the wing in his professional debut and assigned him to Doncic for much of the night.
He held his own. Doncic made just 1 of 6 shots with Lendeborg as his primary defender, according to tracking data. Yaxel Lendeborg finished with 12 points in 29 minutes, but also picked up four fouls.
The Lakers rolled anyway, scoring 32, 34 and 36 points in the first three quarters to build a lead of 35 points. Golden State never recovered from the early deficit.
What happened between Lendeborg and Doncic?
Tempers flared late in the second quarter when Doncic used a pump fake to draw a shooting foul on Lendeborg and then let him hear about it. Lendeborg responded with profanity as officials and players separated the two, while Doncic laughed and clapped.
The Warriors briefly took Lendeborg out. Doncic hit a jumper on the next possession and pointed at the rookie on the bench. The Warriors head coach then sent Lendeborg back in to guard him.
With 31 seconds left in the half, Lendeborg defended Doncic one on one and forced a miss. As Golden State pushed the ball the other way, he kept yelling at Doncic, and an official called a technical foul on him. Lendeborg said he was telling Doncic he could not score on him, and acknowledged the cursing earned the technical.
As the half ended, Doncic banked in a shot from 48 feet to push the lead to 14, then pointed and laughed at Lendeborg. The shot came off the backboard.
Doncic said Lendeborg was talking a lot but that he was trying not to respond because he wants to avoid technical fouls this season.
How did the Warriors react?
The Warriors head coach called the single technical ridiculous. He said the two players were trading words and that Doncic’s celebration after the long shot should also have drawn a technical.
A Warriors veteran who mentors Lendeborg backed the rookie, saying he never believed in showing extra respect to certain players and that Lendeborg should go right back at Doncic next time.
Who is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg has been outspoken since draft night, when he said he used to dislike new teammate Stephen Curry because he grew up a fan of Kyrie Irving.
The Warriors have embraced his personality. He became the first Warriors rookie to start on opening night since James Wiseman in 2020. The coaching staff has praised his readiness to contribute right away. Golden State is also dealing with uncertainty at center amid reports that the team is exploring a trade of Kristaps Porzingis, who has been sidelined by a health issue.
The Warriors and Lakers meet again Oct. 30 in San Francisco, giving Yaxel Lendeborg another chance to back up his words.
