Steve Kerr eager to see how Yaxel Lendeborg handles rematch vs. Luka Dončić

Steve Kerr eager to see how Yaxel Lendeborg handles rematch vs. Luka Dončić  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors get another crack at defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, hosting their rivals to begin their NBA Cup campaign. All eyes will be on the Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Luka Dončić matchup.

Golden State faced the Lakers on opening night, losing 127-105. Lendeborg guarded Dončić and held his own, but dealt with the challenges of facing a superstar right out of the gate. Lendeborg spoke with reporters after the game and called out Dončić, sparking anticipation for the next matchup.

Coach Steve Kerr spoke on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs,” and when asked about Lendeborg’s second opportunity to face the Lakers, he stated that he’s excited to see how he handles the rematch.

“Nope,” Kerr told Dan Dibley on if he wants Lendeborg to take a different approach. “I think what happened last week was great. He said what he said, put himself out there, and now he’s got to guard Luka [Dončić] again. And hopefully, he will have learned from the first game. And he was astonished after that game at the way the game was played and the tricks that Luka was playing on him and the officiating and everything else, and I told him it’s a completely different game than the college game, and you have to get used to all those tricks.

“He’s got five games under his belt, but one against Luka. So we’ll see how he handles it [tonight] because you have to be really crafty to avoid the reach-in fouls, jumping at pump fakes, that comes off when you play against Luka.”

"What happened last week was great. We'll see how he handles it tomorrow because you have to be really crafty when you play against Luka."

Steve Kerr is looking forward to seeing Yaxel Lendeborg make adjustments vs Luka Doncic and the Lakers tomorrow night | @WillardAndDibspic.twitter.com/SH7muf0ot9

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 30, 2026

Lendeborg needed to adapt quickly in his first game against Dončić and showed promise. Scoring 12 points in 29 minutes, he was one of five Warriors players to score double digits and put his physicality on full display. Opening night gave him a good foundation to build on, and he followed that up with an 18-point performance in Golden State’s second game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s draft, is an older rookie at 24 years old and joins a team that urgently needs him to perform. Luckily, Lendeborg steadily has improved each and every game, coming off a 26-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists through five games, he has surged in NBA Rookie of the Year odds.

The Warriors are decimated by injuries, with players such as Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņġis all unavailable, but are still hungry to contend for one last title with the main core of Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Lendeborg’s early-season success has given the team new life while simultaneously giving Curry the perfect sidekick.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast