Yaxel Lendeborg is only a rookie but he's trash talking like a seasoned vet. The Golden State Warriors forward was involved in a lengthy, heated back-and-forth with Luka Doncic during Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Doncic, of course, is known for chirping at the referees in an effort to get foul calls. Lendeborg wasn't having it. The Michigan product was in Doncic's face all night, and Doncic was more than ready to match the energy as they jawed at one another constantly.
The bad blood spilled into postgame, as Lendeborg unleashed some fiery words toward Doncic.
"I had a lot of respect for him [because] I didn't really watch the NBA much," Lendeborg said. "I just watched highlights and seen him kill people. But being in it firsthand and seeing all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect."
Yaxel Lendeborg said he “lost all respect” for Luka Doncic after facing him tonight because he said Doncic was “complaining the entire game.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 22, 2026
On his interaction with Doncic: “I told him he sucks. He can’t score on me.”
Full soundbite pic.twitter.com/1NPctFQ3Vp
Lendeborg held his own against Doncic, forcing him to 2 of 6 from the field as his primary defender, per ESPN. Doncic still got his, though, and after one particular three-point play in the second quarter, he let Lendeborg hear it.
"You get the foul call. Congratulations, bro," Lendeborg said. "Then you talk to me like you did something great. C'mon, dog. That (expletive) is weak. It kind of threw me off because I have so much respect for him. Gone, man. Gone."
Here's their full exchange in all its glory:
Doncic vs. Lendeborg full sequence in 2nd quarter.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) October 22, 2026
Via: https://t.co/Yyck9NUdadpic.twitter.com/Eflnm7LURX
Lendeborg wound up on the losing side of this one, but Draymond Green is encouraging the rookie to keep going after his opponents, no matter the star power.
"In this league, everybody always says, 'Oh, there's certain guys you got to respect,'" Green said. "I ain't come in the league like that. Everybody will say, 'Oh, the rookie learned his lesson.' What'd he learn? The next time he see him, go at his (expletive) again."
Their next meeting will be Oct. 30 in San Francisco.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Yaxel Lendeborg already fed up with Luka Doncic's 'whining and complaining'