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Yaxel Lendeborg has become a hot topic in NBA circles after declaring on Wednesday that he lost all respect for Luka Doncic. The two will meet again when the Lakers and Warriors clash in a week, but Doncic may not be the only player eager to face Lendeborg.
Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick, likely has this Friday's Warriors-Grizzlies game circled after Lendeborg's summer league remarks about him and the Grizzlies. Lendeborg referenced Michigan's regular-season loss to Duke last year when discussing Boozer.
"I think about [revenge] every time I play [Boozer]," Lendeborg said in July. "Every game we play, them refs be saving him. It is a competitive nature [with] everybody that gets drafted ahead of me." After the Warriors defeated the Grizzlies in the Las Vegas Summer League Championship Game, Lendeborg didn't hold back. "Their butts got tight," he said. "They puckered up. Some of us are built for the moment and some aren't. ... Our spirit, our will, our desire to not lose is pretty much what helped us out." It's safe to assume every Grizzlies player is aware of those comments and would like to prove him wrong. Lendeborg will have to deal with a target on his back.
Why It Should Be a Great Matchup
Even without the added motivation, this matchup is compelling. Boozer and Lendeborg finished first and second in BPM last season, and they are similarly sized and skilled. Boozer was always expected to be drafted ahead of Lendeborg because he is 19 while Lendeborg is 24. Boozer projects as the better long-term player due to his greater room for development, but at this moment, they appear evenly matched. Some predicted they would finish 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting.
Their preseason stats were as follows: Lendeborg averaged 23.1 minutes, 15.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 56.9% field goal shooting, and 43.8% from three-point range. Boozer averaged 20.6 minutes, 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 47.1% field goal shooting, and 33.3% from beyond the arc. In their first regular-season games, neither exploded but neither was invisible: Lendeborg had 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Boozer posted seven points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
How Boozer Responds Will Set the Rivalry's Tone
Lendeborg has shown he is unafraid to say things publicly that most NBA players would avoid. It's unclear if he wants a rivalry with Boozer, but one is likely coming regardless. The fastest way for it to gain steam is for Boozer to respond. Will Boozer show more emotion if he scores on Lendeborg? Will he have pointed postgame comments? Boozer carries a total professional demeanor that suggests he might not reveal any desire to beat Lendeborg even if he harbors it. The Grizzlies' starting power forward's response on Friday will be telling.