Draymond Green Backs Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Trash-Talking Luka Doncic

Draymond Green has made a name for himself as one of the NBA’s bad boys. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2012, he is considered one of the league’s most vocal and relentless trash-talkers.

He has never shied away from heated exchanges and is known for getting under his opponents’ skin. His attitude and tenacity have seen him become the vocal leader of the Warriors locker room, which has brought them immense success over the last decade.

However, it looks like the Warriors have added another trash-talker in rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. The Warriors had their highest draft pick in five years with the number 11 pick. They used it to draft Lendeborg from the Michigan Wolverines.

Even before making his NBA debut, Lendeborg has shown that he is not afraid to speak his mind. And on his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, he made headlines for going back and forth with Luka Doncic. The heated exchange saw him receive a technical foul in the first half itself.

Lendeborg called out the Slovenian for his constant complaining and said he had “lost all respect” for him after the game. While Lendeborg received criticism for his actions and attitude, Green defended his rookie teammate.

For Yaxel to get a tech for saying something on one play that Luka doesn’t say something, It was the weakest sh** ever. I respect Yaxel for willing to stand toe to toe. If you want respect from me, earn it from me, you don’t earn respect from me because of what you did to someone else because what if I don’t even respect that guy?

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

Draymond weighs in on Yaxel Lendeborg/Luka Doncic on-court jawing "For Yaxel to get a tech for saying something on one play that Luka doesn’t say something, I thought was the weakest s**t ever… I respect the hell out of Yaxel for willing to stand toe to toe, if you can’t rock with a guy like that, who compete like that, you’re probably a loser… that’s like this old adage of like ‘oh you’re a rookie, you don’t talk’, F**k that!… if you want respect from me, earn it from me, you don’t earn respect from me because of what you did to someone else because what if I don’t even respect that guy?" 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎧 Listen everywhere podcasts are available

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) October 23, 2026

While there is a hierarchy between established players like Luka Doncic and a rookie like Lendeborg, Green does not believe a player’s reputation should stop a newcomer from competing on equal terms. He showed the rookie respect and encouraged him to keep talking.

Draymond Green saw a LeBron James connection in Luka Doncic’s clash with Yaxel Lendeborg

Green is one of the league’s most accomplished players today. Drafted with a second-round pick, he was never gifted with elite athleticism or shooting. However, his impact on the team and games was beyond numbers.

Despite not being a big name when he entered the league, the four-time champion never backed down from an exchange. He has had heated exchanges with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and even his own head coach, Steve Kerr, last season.

Following the Doncic-Lendeborg spat, Green drew parallels to the time when he was a rookie and traded words with LeBron James.

I came in talking. When I hit my game-winner against the Miami Heat as a rookie, me and Bron were already talking, mixing it up. He tells me I’m too little, I score to tell him he’s too little, then I get the walk-off. That was, guess what, when you see the respect and love that Bron and I have for each other now, it starts there, from a guy not backing down.

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

The moment explains why Green believes rookies should not be expected to stay quiet simply because they are facing established stars. Green and James have gone on to become close friends off the court. The Warriors veteran even made a Warriors pitch to him when he was a free agent in the summer.

Draymond Green names Yaxel Lendeborg the future face of the Warriors

When the Warriors drafted Lendeborg this summer, it left many confused, since the rookie was already 24. However, they wanted an experienced rookie to play alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

The Warriors are far away from championship contention at the moment. With Curry and Green in the final years of their careers, the front office has struggled to find Curry’s successor as the franchise superstar.

But Green believes the Warriors have found the franchise’s future in Yaxel Lendeborg.

The Warriors has found the next face of the franchise. We’re gonna talk Rookie of the Year next. We’re all underneath the rim in the paint and Steve’s going crazy like ‘come on guys’ and he’s in the tunnel signing autographs. I told him last night, I said ‘Hey, everybody’s gonna be joking, you’re a rookie but don’t lose that cause that’s actually what Steph Curry would do.

Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show

Draymond and Taylor Rooks discuss why Yaxel Lendeborg is the next face of the franchise for the Warriors "The Golden State Warriors has found the next face of the franchise… we’re gonna talk Rookie of the Year next, that’s my pick… we had open practice, we do the singing, this dude went up in the crowd and the fans loved it, they were going crazy… We’re all underneath the rim in the paint and Steve’s going crazy like ‘come on guys’ and he’s in the tunnel signing autographs and Steve has to go get him… I told him last night, I said ‘Hey, everybody’s gonna be joking, you’re a rookie but don’t lose that cause that’s actually what Steph Curry would do." 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎧 Listen everywhere podcasts are available

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) October 20, 2026

The Warriors have lost their first two games of the 2026-27 campaign, and there aren’t many expectations for this season. However, Green has high expectations for their rookie heading forward.

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