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Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is standing by his trash talk directed at Luka Dončić during their season opener, a game the Los Angeles Lakers won 127-105. Lendeborg, who previously played for UAB and a national champion Michigan team, told reporters after a 111-108 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies that he is not intimidated by the Slovenian star, noting that Dončić is not Michael Jordan.
The rookie forward, who recently moved his mother to California, dismissed critics who mocked his age, stating he is 24 years old and enjoying his professional career.
During the match, Lendeborg told Dončić that he sucks and expressed a loss of respect for the star's tendency to complain. Despite Dončić scoring 23 points in the first half, ESPN tracking showed he shot 0-for-4 in the halfcourt when Lendeborg was the primary defender.
The 27-year-old six-time All-NBA first-teamer and two-time scoring champion admitted the chirping motivated him, though Lendeborg was hit with a technical foul before Dončić hit a buzzer-beating shot to end the second quarter.

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