Lakers’ Jackson Hayes is seeking a Slovenian passport to play with Luka Doncic
The desire to win championships has led to the formation of super teams at the NBA level, but for many players that competitive hunger carries over to the international circuit. Recruiting talent is becoming an important part of gaining global fame. Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić you could be doing just that while playing for Los Angeles Lakers. His teammate, veteran center Jackson Hayes is filling out papers to become a citizen Slovenia, according to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNevs.com.
Although he’s currently averaging just 17.7 minutes per contest, the 25-year-old big man has developed a good relationship with Doncic over the past year. What’s more, Hayes offers a skill set that could prove crucial in international competition. He is a top athlete who can be a fierce threat with the lob for the Slovenian national team.
7-foot bounce and 2026 Dunk Contest Participant he doesn’t have to post monster numbers to make an impact. His high-flying ways, which were on display in Monday’s road win against the Chicago Bulls, should be more than enough. Doncic did everything he could to keep his country in the mix during the Olympics and the FIBA World Cup. After losing in the EuroBasket quarterfinals to Dennis Schroeder and Germany last September, the NBA’s points leader (points per game) is looking for some reinforcements.
And Jackson Hayes is ready to lend a helping hand. The top 10 pick in the 2019 draft knows he won’t get a chance to represent the United States on the world stage. His hopes of competing for a gold medal currently lie in Slovenia. Luka Doncic should be more than happy to cede the field to him.
2026-01-30 21:29:00
