The Aporia · Stephen A. Smith backs Yaxel Lendeborg over ‘whining’ Luka Doncic criticism

Stephen A. Smith backs Yaxel Lendeborg over ‘whining’ Luka Doncic criticism

Read the original at New York Post ↗

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APA MLA Chicago

Young, G. (2026, October 22). Stephen A. Smith backs Yaxel Lendeborg over ‘whining’ Luka Doncic criticism. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/22/sports/stephen-a-smith-backs-yaxel-lendeborg-over-whining-luka-doncic-criticism/

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Quick Summary

Stephen A. Smith defended Yaxel Lendeborg during a "First Take" episode for verbally engaging with Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić during their game. Despite disagreeing with Lendeborg’s comments about Dončić, Smith praised his competitive spirit and criticized NBA officials for penalizing trash talk. Smith also called out the league to allow players more freedom in expressing themselves on the court.

Written by AI on 2026-10-22, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic welcomes Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg to NBA: ‘Talking crazy’ Same event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 18 claims Outlet record 66/100

Lakers’ Luka Doncic hits halfcourt shot, chirps at Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 9 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss trash talking between Yaxel Lendeborg and Luka Doncic during a game, Article A describes the incident as it happened, while Article B reports on reactions to the event the next day.”

Yaxel Lendeborg poured fuel on fire, awakened the beast in Luka Doncic Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 72 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss Yaxel Lendeborg's trash talk with Luka Doncic during their game, Article B focuses on Stephen A. Smith's commentary about the incident rather than describing the specific event itself.”

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg ‘lost all respect’ for Luka Doncic Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 42 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss Yaxel Lendeborg's comments about Luka Doncic after their game, Article B focuses on Stephen A. Smith's reaction and commentary on the event described in Article A.”

Steve Kerr calls out Yaxel Lendeborg’s defense on Luka Doncic: ‘Who the eff cares?’ Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 33 claims Outlet record 66/100

“Article A discusses Stephen A. Smith's support for Yaxel Lendeborg, while Article B focuses on Steve Kerr criticizing Lendeborg’s defense of his actions against Luka Doncic.”

Signals How these are calculated →

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 16 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Same framing elsewhere

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Who wrote this

Grant Young

184 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Valkyries guard Gabby Williams finished the game with 30 points, 27 of which came in the second half.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Gabby Williams fires back at Valkyries doubters with ‘no stars’ jab after WNBA title

🔮 Luka Dončić might never live down what Steph Curry did to him last night.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Jimmy Butler mocks Luka Doncic with strange ‘only master’ Steph Curry AI post

🔮 “Absolutely I do,” Bowden said when asked whether he thinks the Reds could consider trading star shortstop Elly De La Cruz this offseason, per an X post from Doug McKain.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Elly De La Cruz’s Luka Doncic trolling adds twist to Dodgers trade rumors

🔮 As much as Lendeborg’s mouth might get him in trouble, the bottom line is that he already looks like an elite prospect on the court, and that offsets his polarizing off-court nature.

2026-10-27 · assertive framing · Yaxel Lendeborg’s girlfriend Tacarra makes telling 3-word comment about Warriors future

🔮 Four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t think the Warriors’ issues will improve any time soon, given his harsh comments during an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” show on Monday.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · Ex-Warriors star calls for GM Mike Dunleavy’s job over Steph Curry roster failure

🔮 I don’t think they’re getting two [first-round picks], and so maybe it just makes sense to hold on to him,” he added after noting that the Raiders are still 3-4 and in a decent spot.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · Adam Schefter reveals ‘issue’ with Raiders’ Maxx Crosby trade rumors

🔮 And that’s what will ultimately keep him from winning MVP.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Draymond Green sounds alarm on Luka Dončić’s MVP chances

🔮 Owens’ podcast co-host, Chris Spencer, then asked Owens whether he “could do that”, seemingly as a way of questioning whether Evans’ performance has made Owens, who is 52 years old and last played in the NFL during the 2010 season, believe he could still play in the league.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · 49ers legendary receiver throws shade at Mike Evans: ‘Really average’

🔮 “I believe that would be seven or eight weeks from the injury.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Rams finally get ‘good’ injury news with massive Myles Garrett update

🔮 Why would Justin Herbert need to buy beer if he has Beer at home?

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Justin Herbert’s tragic beer run gets Madison Beer’s romantic stamp of approval

Also by Grant Young

Yaxel Lendeborg dunking on girlfriend during basketball beatdown turns heads

2026-11-01 · New York Post

Gabby Williams fires back at Valkyries doubters with ‘no stars’ jab after WNBA title

2026-11-01 · New York Post

Jimmy Butler mocks Luka Doncic with strange ‘only master’ Steph Curry AI post

2026-11-01 · New York Post

USC, Ohio State players nearly come to blows in heated pregame scene

2026-11-01 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 184 articles by Grant Young →

Narrative

Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)

It didn’t take Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg long to become polarizing. asserted

It → take → Lendeborg

The 24-year-old got into a trash talking match with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić during last night’s game, which caused the rookie to lose “all respect” for Dončić. asserted

rookie → get → Dončić

Many people gained respect for Lendeborg for his willingness to verbally spar with one of the league’s best players in his first NBA game. asserted

people → gain → game

Among these is Stephen A. Smith, who backed Lendeborg’s actions during Thursday’s “First Take” episode. asserted

who → back → episode

“I don’t agree with what Lendeborg said, because Luka Dončić does not suck. asserted

Dončić → agree → what

I mean, he’s a superstar in this game. asserted

he → mean → game

So, in that regard, no, I don’t agree with him. asserted

I → agree → him

But I do agree with him going after Luka the way that he did, competing the way that he competed,” Smith said. asserted

Smith → agree → Luka

Smith then praised praised Lendeborg as a player before adding, “Here’s why I’m supportive in what Yaxel is saying: He’s saying, ‘If you’re so great, stop whining to the officials. asserted

you → praise → officials

Just go out there, and if you’re gonna bust my a**, bust my a**. asserted

you → go → *

“I was really, really ticked off when that referee gave Yaxel Lendeborg that technical foul in the second quarter… asserted

referee → tick → quarter

I’m calling out the NBA. asserted

I → call → NBA

NBA gotta stop that nonsense! asserted

NBA → got → nonsense

Let them talk!” he continued. asserted

he → let → ?

It sounds like Lendeborg earned Smith’s respect. asserted

Lendeborg → sound → respect

Regardless of where fans side on this, the next time Golden State and Los Angeles square off (which is on October 30) just became must-see TV. asserted

which → side → October

Stephen A. Smith backs Yaxel Lendeborg over ‘whining’ Luka Doncic criticism

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Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)