Yaxel Lendeborg, the Warriors’ rookie forward, straight-up called out Grizzlies first-year big man Cameron Boozer after leading Golden State to a 94-90 win in the NBA summer league championship game Sunday, flat-out saying “Every game we play, them refs be saving him.” Yeah, you read that right. He didn’t hold back, and now we all know this rivalry is about to be pure fire for years.
Summer League MVP Gets His Revenge
This wasn’t just any win for Lendeborg, it was payback, pure and simple. We’re talking serious history here. Lendeborg, who got drafted 11th overall, led his Michigan squad against Boozer’s Duke back in February in a huge college matchup, and Duke took the W that time. So you know Lendeborg had that game circled. He said himself, “I think about [revenge] every time I play [Boozer].” That’s the kind of competitor you want on your team. He backed it up too, dropping 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors on a sick fourth-quarter comeback, earning MVP honors in the process. Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick, still balled out with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the loss. But the headline here is Lendeborg getting the last laugh.
The Trash Talk That Just Set the League Ablaze
Listen, it’s one thing to get a win, it’s another to throw down a gauntlet like Lendeborg just did. “It is a competitive nature [with] everybody that gets drafted ahead of me,” he added, making it clear this isn’t just about Boozer, but about every guy who heard his name called before his. That’s a serious chip on his shoulder! Boozer, for his part, handled it with a bit more diplomacy, saying he needs “to find a way to assert myself more” and admitting he got “two great looks, but they didn’t fall.” He even added, “We lost, but this is why I love the game. It was high-intensity and back-and-forth.” Credit to him for the take, but you know those words from Lendeborg are gonna sting.
Get Ready For The Next Chapter
So, what’s next? More of *this*. The summer league championship gave us a glimpse into what’s coming, and it’s looking like a full-blown rivalry between two top rookies. These guys are gonna be clashing for a long, long time. Every time the Warriors play the Grizzlies, you know everyone’s gonna be tuned in, waiting to see who comes out on top and what’s said afterward. Get ready for these matchups as Lendeborg and Boozer continue to grow in the league. This is gonna be fun!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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