Warriors rookie admits he went ‘overboard’ with Luka Doncic trash talk

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg didn’t hold the trash talk back in his NBA debut.

Lendeborg was tasked with defending Lakers superstar Luka Doncic on Opening Night and the matchup did not disappoint. The Warriors rookie started chirping at Doncic, which continued with back-and-forth banter throughout the game.

Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game on October 21, 2026 at Chase Center. NBAE via Getty Images

“I’m not afraid to talk to nobody. He’s not Michael Jordan,” Lendeborg said.

While Lendeborg wasn’t ashamed by his actions, he added: “I feel like I did kinda take it overboard in the media, but it is what it is.”

Lendeborg’s trash talk extended off the court as the forward ranted about Doncic to the media after the Warriors’ season-opening loss.

“Being in there firsthand, just watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man,” Lendeborg said.

“Like, me getting frustrated, it’s not about the foul getting called. It’s about him complaining the entire game,” Lendeborg added. “Then you get the foul called — congratulations, bro — and you talk to me like you did something great? That’s just weak. It kind of threw me off for a while. Because like I said, I had so much respect for him. Gone, man.”

Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors plays defense on Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images

Lendeborg certainly had his welcome to the NBA moment as Doncic scored a game-high 28 points, seven assists and eight rebounds to give the Lakers a commanding win over Golden State.

But the Warriors rookie is seemingly unfazed by the results.

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