Warriors Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Surprised to Guard Luka Dončić in Preseason, But Ends Up Facing Walker Kessler

Golden State’s No. 11 overall pick, Yaxel Lendeborg, was told by assistant coach Frank Vogel that he would guard Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić in a preseason game. Lendeborg, who had been scrolling on his phone, reacted with disbelief, saying, “What the f‑‑‑?” The Lakers’ head coach, JJ Redick, opted to rest Dončić, so Lendeborg matched up against rookie center Walker Kessler instead. The Warriors won 101‑89, and Lendeborg finished with 19 points while holding his own defensively. He’s expected to serve as a versatile defender for Steve Kerr in the regular season, with the first matchup scheduled for Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.