“What the [expletive]?” That’s the exact thought Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg admitted went through his head when Warriors assistant coach Frank Vogel dropped the news: Lendeborg would be tasked with guarding Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic. And honestly, who in their right mind wouldn’t have that exact reaction?
The Rookie’s Nightmare That Almost Was
This all went down during a late-preseason game this week between the Warriors and Lakers. There was a real chance the starters would get decent playing time, meaning Lendeborg might have actually faced Doncic. Thankfully for the rookie, the two-time NBA scoring champion sat out the matchup. But the possibility alone was enough to make Lendeborg nearly lose it. He recalled Vogel telling him about the assignment, and then just three words flashed in his mind. “What the [expletive]?” he said, laughing about it later. Lendeborg confessed, “Just going to throw me into the fire. I tried to act like all cool and not spooked, but I was spooked, man; that’s crazy.” It’s pure, unadulterated honesty from a guy staring down one of the league’s most unstoppable forces.
The Brutal Truth and What’s Coming Next
To make it even wilder, Lendeborg revealed that Vogel didn’t try to sugarcoat it, adding, “Nobody can stop him, so just do your best.” Talk about a tough pep talk! Credit to Lendeborg for even processing that possibility without completely freezing up, even if he was “spooked.” But here’s the kicker: this preseason scare? It’s just a preview of the real nightmare. The Warriors open their 2026-27 season against none other than the Lakers, on Wednesday, October 21. That’s an ESPN matchup, meaning the whole league will be watching. And it gets better for Lendeborg: these two teams square off four times this season. Their second meeting is less than two weeks later, on Friday, October 30. Get ready, Yaxel, because it’s coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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