Where were you when Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić hit a half-court buzzer beater to finish the first half against the Golden State Warriors?
NBA rookie Yaxel Lendeborg will always remember the answer to that question because he was occasionally tasked with guarding the six-time NBA All-Star and the matchup got a little chippy. During a back-and-forth exchange that lasted the entire game, the former Michigan standout wasn't afraid to get in the face of Dončić.
To his credit, he did a solid job with the assignment. But this sort of energy may have backfired for Lendeborg, which was especially evident at the end of the first half when Dončić hit a heave and immediately pointed at the NCAA national champion.
Luka Doncic on his interaction with
Yaxel: "Everybody knows when somebody starts talking, you got a different me. So that was it" pic.twitter.com/f8LkAWZ3Av
— Oh No He Didn't 🤯 (@ohnohedidnt24) October 22, 2026
Dončić stated that "everybody knows" that when somebody starts talking trash to him, it brings out a different side of him. He finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals with a game-high plus-minus of 31.
He added that the first-year pro was "talking crazy" but that the Slovenian-born guard was avoiding getting any technical fouls.
Lendeborg, meanwhile, told reporters that he was immediately fed up with the "whining and complaining" from Dončić.
The Lakers will play the Warriors again in Golden State on October 30. When that happens, veteran Draymond Green is encouraging the rookie to go right at Dončić again.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Luka Doncic confirmed Yaxel Lendeborg hatred only made him stronger
