Luka's 'Not Michael Jordan,' Yaxel Lendeborg Addresses Trash Talk in Video, 'I'm Not Afraid'

Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg isn't backing down from his comments about Luka Dončić after the Los Angeles Lakers' season-opening victory on Wednesday.

After the Warriors' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Lendeborg doubled down when he told reporters "I'm not afraid" of anyone and Dončić is "not Michael Jordan."

Lendeborg and Dončić were going at it both verbally and physically in Wednesday's game. One moment saw Dončić calling Lendeborg "24 and a rookie" and he needs to "relax."

Warriors-Lakers Highlights

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Things got chippy enough between the two that Lendeborg at one point was called for a technical foul late in the second quarter. He said after the game that Dončić "sucks" and he "lost all respect" for the Lakers star because he was "complaining the entire game."

Despite the boldness of a rookie after his first game so publicly criticizing a superstar player, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr did appreciate Lendeborg's approach while offering one critique.

"I love it," Kerr said. "I think the bravado, not backing down, it's great. ... Hell yeah, but don't foul him next time … back up your words."

Dončić got the last laugh in the game with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Lakers to a 127-105 victory.

Adding more insult to the situation for Lendeborg is the Warriors blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Grizzlies on Friday night to fall to 0-2 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.

Lendeborg showed up for Golden State with 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals in 37 minutes. He will try to help the Warriors get their first win of the season on Saturday when they take on the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center.