Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green publicly refuted claims made by rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, calling him a "F------ liar" on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show." Lendeborg had stated during his introductory press conference that he had not heard from Green after being selected as the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Green presented text message evidence on his podcast to counter Lendeborg's assertion, showing he had responded to the rookie within 30 seconds of receiving a message. "Yaxel’s been f—— lying," Green stated. "I was very happy to expose the rookie on the internet."
Green emphasized his role as a veteran in guiding new players, saying, "It’s my responsibility as a veteran to help you be in the best position that you can be to be successful and take over this franchise." He added that he felt compelled to expose the rookie and cautioned him about the importance of credibility.
The veteran forward also touched upon the possibility of reviving rookie hazing traditions within the team. "We’ve just never been that team, pouring in on rookie hazing," Green said, "But we can pick that back up. We can definitely make it a little more interesting."
Green recalled past rookie hazing experiences, which included missing popcorn and tires. He concluded by warning Lendeborg to "tread lightly," suggesting that rookie duties could increase as the season progresses, potentially involving tasks like purchasing a PlayStation 5 from Best Buy.