Yaxel Lendeborg spent his NBA debut trying to get under Luka Doncic’s skin. One rival executive thinks the Warriors rookie did Lakers coach JJ Redick a favor.
“Oh man, JJ had to absolutely love that. He owes [Lendeborg] a steak dinner,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Any time Luka is focused on trash-talking another player and not the refs is great for the ballclub, and nothing gets him going like that.”
That was the other side of Wednesday’s confrontation, which continued well beyond the Lakers’ 127-105 victory. Lendeborg told reporters afterward that Doncic’s persistent appeals for foul calls had changed his opinion of the superstar.
“I had a lot of respect for him [because] I didn’t really watch the NBA much,” Lendeborg said, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “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.”
The rookie did have some success defensively. According to ESPN tracking data, Doncic shot 1-of-6 with Lendeborg as his primary defender. But the Lakers built a lead that reached 35 points, and Doncic found plenty to enjoy during their exchanges.
After drawing a shooting foul on Lendeborg late in the second quarter, Doncic laughed and clapped. Lendeborg eventually received a technical for his own comments. Doncic then banked in a 48-foot shot at the halftime buzzer and pointed at the rookie.
“He was talking crazy,” Doncic said. “But I wasn’t trying to talk back. This season, I’m not trying to get techs.”
Draymond Green defended his young teammate’s approach, rejecting the idea that Lendeborg needed to learn a lesson about challenging established stars.
“Everybody will say, ‘Oh, the rookie learned his lesson.’ What’d he learn?” Green said. “The next time he see him, go at his ass again.”
That opportunity comes Oct. 30 in San Francisco. Judging by the executive’s assessment, Redick might welcome another round.
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