Luka Dončić’s teammate wants to join him in the Slovenia team
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has a teammate fishing to join Slovenian national team. Jackson Hayesthe veteran big man entering his seventh NBA season is reportedly working on it finding a way to become a naturalized player when he gets his passport.
“That’s my guy, right now we’re working on getting a Slovenian passport for me so I can play with him next summer,” Hayes said, via Diggin Basketball’s East Frank.
Hayes and the The Lakers were in Las Vegas to take on the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Without Doncic, LeBron James and a host of players, LA dominated with a final score of 121-94. Hayes was a bright spot in the starting role, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds on 5-for-8 from the field. He also had four assists and a steal.
Last season, Hayes’ production increased after the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic in early February. He averaged 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds after the trade in 21.4 minutes per game, making a career-best 75.6% of his field goal attempts. Most of them were set up by Doncic, who likes to have a lob threat that he can throw in both in the half court and on fast breaks.
It’s clear that Doncic and Hayes have formed a bond in the short time they’ve been together. It will be interesting to see how that relationship grows in Doncic’s first full season wearing the purple and gold. Hayes can find his niche with the Lakers by playing alongside one of the best guys in the game, who makes his teammates around him better.
LA will wrap up its preseason schedule Friday night against the Sacramento Kings at home. He currently has a 1-4 record before the Finals.
The Lakers will open their regular season by hosting the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves on October 21 and 24, respectively. Whether or not LeBron will get dressed still up in the airbut Doncic and Hayes should have a chance to continue to strengthen their bond when the games start to count.
Spencer Davies has covered the NBA and the Cleveland Cavaliers as an accredited reporter for over a decade. His work has appeared on Basketball News, Bleacher Report, USA Today, FOX Sports, HoopsHipe, CloseUp360, FanSided and Basketball Insiders, among others.
2025-10-16 13:46:00
