LeBron James-like talent LA loses to Jackson Hayes injury

LOS ANGELES – Just when it is Los Angeles Lakers have started to recover to 100 percent, have received another injury update, this time to the backup center Jackson Hayes. Hayes suffered an ankle injury in the first half of the Lakers’ loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday and did not return. Before the Lakers’ game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, head coach JJ Redick bemoaned the fact that Hayes’ absence means the team is losing this particular ability that only LeBron James could pull it off.

“Unfortunately, nobody on our team can jump as high as him except maybe LeBron. So we’ll settle for Maxi (Kleber) and Wanda,” Redick said. “And the good news is that he’s day-to-day. And he’s already made improvements. He did a light practice on the field today. He’s still dealing with a little soreness, but hopefully he’ll be back this week.”

Jackson Hayes was initially listed as suspicious on the Lakers’ injury report for their game against the Magic, but was demoted to out a few hours before tipoff. Hayes has been dealing with ankle issues this season, but has mostly been an integral part of the Lakers’ rotation.

Hayes is in his third season with the Lakers after originally signing as a free agent in the 2023 offseason. He originally signed a two-year deal with the team and then re-signed to a one-year deal last offseason. Hayes filled in admirably last year as the starting center following the departure of Anthony Davis, but Redick ended up benching him amid the Lakers’ disappointing playoff run against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This season, Hayes has appeared in 47 games, including seven starts, while logging just over 17 minutes per game. He is averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds on 77 percent shooting from the field and 64.1 percent from the free throw line. Hayes represented the Lakers in the dunk contest over All-Star weekend, but was eliminated in the first round.

With Hayes out of the lineup, the backup center role will fall to the combination of Maxi Kleber and Jared Vanderbilt. Kleber gives the Lakers more of a traditional big man in terms of size, while Vanderbilt has worked in small-ball lineups.