Here comes Luka Dončić, and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg won't flinch

Here comes Luka Dončić, and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg won't flinch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It took Yaxel Lendeborg only 10 days to climb to a place most NBA players can’t get to in 10 years.

He already is a marked man – by opposing coaches and opposing players.

He has zoomed up the scouting report on Golden State’s offense as the No. 2 concern. As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to face the Warriors on Friday night, Yaxel’s name will be high on the board, right behind that of two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry.

Lendeborg most assuredly will be No. 1 in the mind of LA star Luka Dončić.

Lendeborg’s in-game conduct and postgame comments last week in the wake of Golden State’s opening-night loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles added spice to future meetings between him and Dončić. The rook didn’t flinch during or after, and the vet led his team to victory.

When they meet again Friday night at Chase Center, the usual sellout crowd will be casting curious eyes toward Lendeborg and Dončić. Will there be any heat between them? Will Luka hunt the rookie? Will Lendeborg – with his image already alongside Curry in promotional graphics – try to make a statement?

We hope that “yes” is the answer to all three questions.

Without referencing Dončić, Lendeborg made it apparent late Wednesday night that he is anticipating coming home for a rematch against the Lakers.

“I’m looking forward to the matchup,” Lendeborg told Tim Roye on postgame Warriors Radio. “I need that day off; it’s very much needed. But I’ll be ready to kill on Friday, or whatever day it is. I’m just trying to make sure that we get that win and continue to keep rolling.”

After losing their first three games, the Warriors are coming off back-to-back wins at Denver and Minnesota. Lendeborg shined against the Nuggets, producing game-highs in points (31) and rebounds (12) while adding six assists. The rook put up 26 points and eight rebounds against the Timberwolves but also acknowledged the worst part of his performance.

On a night when the Warriors led by as much as 24, he committed seven turnovers – six of which came in the second half to nourish Minnesota’s late comeback.

“That started with me,” Lendeborg said. “I was being way too sloppy with the ball. I had no control over it, and pretty much all those turnovers kind of gave them a little run. The crowd got into it, so they started feeling a little bit more confident, seeing a bunch of shots go in that weren’t falling in the first half.”

That instant self-reflection is among the many of Lendeborg’s encouraging traits. He knows he’s learning but makes no attempt to overlook the lessons.

“He feels terrible in there,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters at Target Center. “He’s not happy at all. And yet, he had 26 points and eight boards in his fifth NBA game.

“So, it’s a great lesson for him.”

The weakest component of Lendeborg’s game is his defense. His footwork is awkward, his rotations can be a beat late and he’s still calculating the timing and nuances of operating as the helper. He didn’t do much of that last year at the University of Michigan, largely because his 6-foot-9 body was on the wing while 7-foot-3 Aday Mara and 6-foot-10 Morez Johnson Jr. roamed the paint.

Lendeborg is, however, decent on the ball for someone with such a massive physique. That’s why he saw plenty of Dončić last week and can expect more on Friday.

Dončić, during his eight seasons in the league, has developed a reputation for being a brilliant offensive machine, frequent dialogue with officials and seeking to attack opponents who become irritants. His 36.0 points per game lead the league and his shooting percentages are more than respectable.

At the sight of Lendeborg, Luka will want to drop 40. 

The fun of the matchup is that Yaxel would want nothing less than another round of spirited competition with a star for whom he says he “has lost all respect.”

Nothing Lendeborg has said or done in his first 10 days suggests any back-and-forth will have any effect. He has a high level of skill, but we’ve seen enough of his personality to realize he possesses the ancillary elements required for stardom. He’s not ducking the smoke and he absorbs critiques and advice from his NBA elders.

Let the challenges come. Game after game, throughout the season. A rookie needs barriers to clear, especially those with star quality. 

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