Lendeborg's harsh words for Doncic: I lost all my respect

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic had a verbal confrontation with Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg in the first game of the 2026/27 NBA season. The Lakers won the game, which was played on Wednesday. Doncic was the top scorer of the game with 28 points.

The Slovenian star commented on the argument, which happened late in the first half, at the post-game press conference. Doncic said his opponent talked very harshly, while he himself did not try to respond. Doncic said the reason there was no double technical foul this time was that he stayed quiet, adding that he has been working on this and that it is working.

Lendeborg, a 24-year-old who was picked 11th in the June draft and won the NCAA title with Michigan, sees it differently. The rookie said he had previously had great respect for Doncic, but that he completely lost that respect because of the complaining and protesting he saw on the court. He stressed that the problem was not a foul call, but the complaints that continued throughout the game.

Lendeborg admitted that he started the exchange himself. He said he told Doncic that he would not be able to score against him, that he swore a few times, and that the technical foul came because of that. He claimed that the only basket Doncic scored against him was a bank shot from half court.

Lendeborg, who said he knows they play a team sport, added that he took the matchup personally. He said he did everything he could to avoid committing a foul, and even considered defending Doncic with his hands behind his back.