Golden State Warriors rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg doubled down on his criticism of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic on Saturday, declaring that he is not afraid to confront the six-time All-Star because “he's not Michael Jordan.”
Lendeborg addressed his ongoing exchange with Doncic during a locker room interview with Joseph Dycus of The Mercury News ahead of Golden State's Saturday night matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
“I'm not supposed to talk to him, something like that… He gonna say what he wanna say, I'm a say what I wanna say. I'm not afraid to talk to nobody, man. He's not Michael Jordan, like come on now,” Lendeborg said with a laugh.
The 24-year-old rookie also acknowledged that his previous criticism of Doncic might have gone too far.
“It's fun trash talk. I feel like I did kinda take it overboard in the media, but you know it is what it is.”
“I’m not supposed to talk to him, something like that… Imma say what I wanna say. I’m not afraid to talk to nobody, man. He’s not Michael Jordan."
Yaxel Lendeborg responds to the reactions to his comments about Luka Doncic 👀
(via @joseph_dycus)pic.twitter.com/4wZk0NzVfN https://t.co/MPjdWD1w3P
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 24, 2026
The exchange follows Lendeborg's comments after the Warriors suffered a 127-105 season-opening loss to the Lakers on Wednesday night.
Yaxel Lendeborg's Luka Doncic feud adds intrigue to Warriors-Lakers rematch
Following that defeat, the rookie publicly criticized Doncic's behavior toward officials during the game.
“I had a lot of respect for him [Luka Doncic], but being in there firsthand, watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect for him,” Lendeborg said.
Article Continues BelowHis latest remarks suggest that while he recognizes his initial comments might have been excessive, he remains unwilling to back down from the Lakers superstar.
The developing tension adds another storyline to the rivalry between the two Pacific Division opponents, who will meet again next week.
Meanwhile, Golden State enters Saturday's contest against Phoenix with an 0-2 record after falling 111-108 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
The Warriors will attempt to secure their first victory of the 2026-27 season when they face the Suns (0-1) at 7 p.m. PT on NBA TV.
Golden State will then host Doncic and the Lakers next Friday at 7 p.m. PT on Prime Video, giving Lendeborg another opportunity to face the player he has publicly criticized.