Lakers' Jaxson Hayes Says He's Trying to Join Luka Doncic on Slovenian National Team
The 2025-26 campaign will be Jaxson Hayes' first full season playing alongside Luka Dončić, but the Los Angeles Lakers big man is hoping to take that on-court relationship to international basketball in the near future.
Hayes told reporters Wednesday he is attempting to obtain a Slovenian passport to join the star guard on Slovenia's national team.
NBA insider Marc Stein noted he would become the team's naturalized player if he is successful.
According to Eurohoops, the Slovenian Basketball Federation released the following statement:
"As previously mentioned, we are exploring the possibility of a new naturalized player in the center position. We are aiming to secure this player for a longer period to ensure the team's stability in the coming years. At this stage, we cannot disclose names or details. Once all matters are finalized and the procedures successfully completed, we will inform the public."
Hayes is just 25 years old, so he is someone who could play "for a longer period to ensure the team's stability in the coming years."
The Texas product got his first experience teaming up with Dončić toward the end of last season after the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the five-time All-Star via trade from the Dallas Mavericks.
There wasn't much time to adjust, but they now have some experience and will be starting a new season on the same team. That should lead to notable on-court chemistry, especially since Dončić is someone who is so reliant on the ability to get into the lane and then throw lob passes to bigs when opposing defenders collapse on his penetration.
He was dominant in Dallas doing that with Dereck Lively II and will surely look to consistently do the same with Hayes.
Dončić led Slovenia to the quarterfinals of EuroBasket 2025 before losing to a German team that featured multiple NBA players despite scoring 39 points. Adding another NBA player such as Hayes to the roster will help the Slovenian National Team compete in those high-profile tournaments and not be quite so reliant on Dončić to carry as much responsibility.
That player having NBA experience as teammates with Dončić would only be an additional boost.
