During a press conference after the Lakers’ recent preseason game, center Jaxson Hayes spoke openly about his connection with Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic – and he hinted at a major international basketball development.
“Luka is my guy. We’re working on getting Slovenian citizenship so I can play with him next summer,” the 25-year-old told reporters following the Lakers’ 121-94 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas.
Hayes had one of his strongest performances of the preseason during that game, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting while also collecting 10 rebounds, marking his best outing so far.
The Slovenian Basketball Federation has acknowledged that it is actively exploring the addition of a naturalized center to bolster the national roster.
“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,” a federation spokesperson said, per rtvslo.si.
Hayes entered the NBA as the 8th overall pick in the 2019 draft, beginning his professional career with the New Orleans Pelicans before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023.
Across six seasons, he has played in 367 regular-season games, averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes hints at getting Slovenian citizenship to team up with Luka Dončić #NBA https://t.co/B5VldBBXxE
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 16, 2025
