In his first regular-season NBA game, Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg got to know what it’s like to play against Luka Doncic. He later said that he’d “lost all respect” for Doncic after seeing the LA Lakers star complaining to referees.
For an NBA rookie, this was a defiant statement. As far as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is concerned, Lendeborg was justified in voicing it. On Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” Smith explained why he backed Lendeborg’s assessment of Doncic.
“He’s saying, ‘if you’re so great, quit whining to the officials. Just go out there and bust my (expletive). But stop whining to the officials, looking to them for help.'”
Smith also gave his reaction to the technical foul called on Lendeborg shortly before halftime. After multiple sequences of Lendeborg and Doncic taunting each other, the Warriors rookie was called for a tech after referee James Capers decided he’d heard enough.
“I was really ticked off when that ref gave Yaxel that technical. I’m calling out the NBA. NBA, gotta stop that nonsense! Let them talk!” Smith said.
Although Lendeborg held Doncic to 1-for-6 shooting as the Slovenian guard’s primary defender (according to ESPN), Doncic nevertheless finished with 28 points in the Lakers’ 127-105 beatdown of the Warriors.
Lendeborg, who finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists, lost the season-opening battle with Doncic. But at least, the youngster got the Stephen A. Smith stamp of approval.
“I Love Confidence”: Steph Curry Voices Support for Yaxel Lendeborg After Back-and-Forth With Luka Doncic
As for Yaxel Lendeborg’s most popular teammate, his verbal skirmish with Luka Doncic was an indication of good things to come.
In the postgame media session, Steph Curry had positive things to say about the rookie:
“I love confidence. I love that care and passion, and from what I’ve seen from him, it’s about just playing basketball. It’s not about anything else other than competitiveness.”
The four-time NBA champion added that Lendeborg is “setting the table for himself to have to show up.” That’s exactly what the 0-1 Warriors will have to do as a collective unit when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
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