Warriors Rookie Says Doncic Crossed the Line, Lost His Respect

WHO:

NBC Sports - Luka Doncic said he was not trying to talk back to Yaxel Lendeborg and was working on avoiding technical fouls this season.

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, who played with Luka Dončić in Dallas, commented on Yaxel Lendeborg’s remarks.

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - Warriors coach Steve Kerr criticized officials, while Draymond Green urged Lendeborg to keep talking; ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also voiced support for the rookie.

RealGM Basketball - Yaxel Lendeborg is a Warriors rookie forward.

RealGM Basketball - Luka Doncic is a Los Angeles Lakers superstar.

NY Post - The articles identify Lendeborg as a Warriors rookie and Doncic as a Lakers player.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - Lendeborg received a technical foul before halftime; the Lakers then went on a 13-4 run sparked by Doncic after Lendeborg got in his face.

NBC Sports - Doncic scored 23 points by halftime, including a half-court buzzer-beater.

NBC Sports - Walker Kessler had 10 dunks; NBC Sports reported he benefited when the Warriors’ defense collapsed on Doncic.

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - Marshall wrote, “80 ball next time they play never speak on the DON,” in response to a post featuring Lendeborg’s remarks.

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - Lendeborg said, “I was telling him he sucks,” and, “He can't score on me.”

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - Dončić scored 28 points on 7-of-18 shooting; with Lendeborg as his primary defender, he shot 1-of-5 and committed two turnovers. Dončić also made all six free throws with Lendeborg guarding him. Lendeborg said Dončić’s only basket against him was a half-court bank shot.

NY Post - Steve Kerr was caught on a hot mic criticizing alleged officiating favoritism toward the Lakers during the Warriors’ 127-105 loss.

RealGM Basketball - During a matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, Doncic and Lendeborg talked trash after Lendeborg was called for a foul while guarding Doncic.

RealGM Basketball - Lendeborg said the interaction caused him to “lose all respect” for Doncic, citing what he viewed as Doncic’s “whining and complaining.”

RealGM Basketball - Lendeborg said he disliked Doncic celebrating after drawing a foul on a pump fake that Lendeborg bit on.

RealGM Basketball - Lendeborg said: “You get the foul call. Congratulations, bro,” and criticized Doncic for talking to him “like you did something great,” adding, “That s--- is weak.”

RealGM Basketball - Lendeborg said the exchange “kind of threw me off” because he had respected Doncic, but concluded: “Gone, man. Gone.”

NY Post - One headline characterized the exchange as Lendeborg “poking the bear” and facing Doncic’s “wrath”; its article text says the pair were “Talking crazy.”

NY Post - Another article says Lendeborg bit on one of Doncic’s pump fakes midway through the first half, after which the two began talking.

WHERE:

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - The Warriors’ loss took place at Crypto.com Arena; the rematch is scheduled in San Francisco.

RealGM Basketball - The matchup was between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

WHEN:

NBC Sports Bay Area & California - The Warriors are scheduled to host the Lakers on “Oct. 30.”

WHY:

RealGM Basketball - Lendeborg said he had respected Doncic because he had watched highlights of him, but seeing him play firsthand and complain changed his opinion.

HOW:

NBC Sports - Doncic said the exchange did not result in a double technical because he did not respond to Lendeborg.

RealGM Basketball - Lendeborg described his prior exposure to Doncic as watching highlights rather than watching much NBA basketball.

A trash-talk exchange between Lakers star Luka Doncic and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg escalated during Golden State’s 127-to-105 loss in Los Angeles. Lendeborg was called for a technical foul before halftime after getting in Doncic’s face, and the Lakers followed with a 13-to-4 run. Doncic had 23 points by the break, including a half-court buzzer-beater, and finished with 28. Lendeborg later said Doncic’s complaining and celebration after drawing a foul changed his opinion of the star, whom he had mostly watched in highlight clips. Doncic said he wasn’t trying to talk back and was working to avoid technical fouls. Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, who played with Doncic in Dallas, responded online with a warning to Lendeborg. Warriors coach Steve Kerr criticized the officiating, while Draymond Green and commentator Stephen A. Smith backed the rookie. The teams meet again in San Francisco on Oct. 30.