Yaxel Lendeborg got a taste of the NBA on Wednesday night, with the rookie finding himself in the middle of a heated exchange with Luka Doncic during the Lakers’ matchup with the Warriors.
Lendeborg said he ‘lost all respect’ for Luka in the first time guarding him in the NBA.
The clash sparked plenty of reaction, with Steph Curry backing Lendeborg’s confidence and competitive edge in his first official NBA game.
“I love confidence, I love that care and passion,” Curry said of Yaxel. “From what I’ve seen from him, it’s about just playing basketball. It’s not about anything else. He’s setting the table for himself to have to show up. I like the nature of the game, whether you do it in between your ears or you let it out.”
Green was even more blunt in his assessment, suggesting Lendeborg shouldn’t let the experience change how he approaches his next matchup with Doncic.
“Everyone will say the rookie learned his lesson,” Green said. “What he learn? The next time he see him, go at his ass again.”
In the postgame interview, Steve Kerr was a little more pragmatic and pointed out the 24-year-old Lendeborg’s learning curve.
“This was a great welcome to the NBA game for him,” Kerr said. “Having to guard Luka, who is as tough to guard as anybody in the world. Having to learn all the little tricks that exist in the NBA. He had three fouls that probably wouldn’t be fouls in any other league in the world. But it’s the NBA. He’s gotta learn this stuff.
“It’s his first game. He’s an unbelievable young guy, great talent. It was a frustrating night for him, but a lesson well learned, and he’ll get better from here.”