Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg publicly criticized Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic after their first game of the NBA season, saying he had lost respect for him because of his complaints during the match. The Warriors lost 127–105, while Doncic responded that Lendeborg should relax because he was a 24-year-old rookie. Lendeborg later repeated that Doncic was not Michael Jordan and did not retract his remarks.

Lendeborg received support from teammates including Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Dutch player Malevy Leons. Leons said Lendeborg backed up his outspoken comments with his play. In his first four games, Lendeborg recorded 87 points, 37 rebounds and 19 assists, becoming the first rookie since Alvan Adams in 1975 to reach those totals, and he was moved into the starting lineup because of Kristaps Porzingis's health problems. The Warriors and Lakers are due to meet again, while basketball analyst Ivan Lukovic said Lendeborg had made an excellent start but that it was too early to call him a superstar.