Warriors rookie’s reaction to learning he’d guard Lakers superstar Luka Dončić goes viral: ‘What the f—?’
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said he was stunned when assistant coach Frank Vogel told him he would guard Lakers star Luka Dončić in a preseason game. The assignment would have been a daunting introduction to the NBA, given Dončić’s scoring record and reputation as one of the league’s leading offensive players.
Lakers coach JJ Redick rested Dončić, so Lendeborg instead faced centre Walker Kessler as Golden State won 101-89. The 11th overall draft pick scored 19 points and has a strong defensive record from college; Dončić averaged an NBA-leading 33.5 points per game last season. The teams are due to meet in Los Angeles on 21 October.
- Lendeborg thought he would be guarding Dončić.
- Dončić was rested, and the Warriors beat the Lakers 101-89.
- The rookie scored 19 points against Walker Kessler.
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The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers are two NBA basketball teams in California. Yaxel Lendeborg is a rookie, meaning he is in his first professional season, while Luka Dončić is an established Lakers player known for scoring.
In basketball, teams assign defenders to mark opponents and try to limit their scoring. Being asked to guard a leading scorer such as Dončić would be a demanding test for a new player, though preseason games are played before the regular season and help teams prepare.