The Golden State Warriors didn’t look too competitive against the Los Angeles Lakers in their home opener on Wednesday, falling 127-105.

The Warriors had no answer for Walker Kessler, who went 12-for-12, including ten dunks, for 26 points.

They thought they had the answer for Luka Doncic, putting 11th overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg on Doncic for long stretches, hoping that Yaxel’s length and athleticism would slow him down.

Doncic seemed rather unbothered by any coverage that Warriors threw at him, dropping 28 points, knocking down five threes, and getting to the line nine times.

The two got into a heated exchange at the end of the first half when Doncic banked in a buzzer-beater from half-court as Yaxel went for the block. Doncic let him know that there was no block, only a bucket.

Lendeborg brought a new energy to the team when he was drafted, and he showed in game one of his career that he is not afraid to go at one of the top players in the league.

After the game, Draymond encouraged Yaxel to keep talking. He said that even if he gets his ass busted, there will be more games against Doncic, and he wants him to keep talking in those games as well.

“Everyone will say the rookie learned his lesson. What did he learn? The next time he sees him, go at his ass again.”

He said that he loses respect for guys who talk and then get quiet, noting that he was never the guy to talk and then get quiet, and no one can shut him up.

Warriors fans can fully expect Yaxel to keep talking. He didn’t hold back in his post-game comments, calling out Luka for his foul baiting and saying he lost respect for him.

If he’s willing to go at Luka in the game and in his post-game comments, he’s unlikely to back down from anyone in the league.

Given the Warriors’ lack of athleticism on the wing and the injury to Jimmy Butler, Yaxel is going to be tasked with guarding the opponents’ best player on many nights. He held Luka to 1-for-5 shooting, but Luka was able to draw three fouls on him, and created a number of opportunities for his teammates, totaling 20 points in the matchup.

Luka is one of the toughest matchups in the league, and Yaxel will quickly learn that superstars know all the tricks.