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Dave McMenamin: Here's an example of JJ Redick being detail-oriented during the playoffs. In Gm 3, Jaxson Hayes was in at the end of the 4th Q and made a crucial stop on Alperen Sengun. To start OT, Redick subbed Deandre Ayton back in for Hayes. Why? "DA's been elite at winning the opening tip"
Dave McMenamin: “He’s been a big key in both these games. … DA and I had a conversation today, it was, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong, that’s not the reason you didn’t finish the game. It’s just the group out there was winning.’” - JJ Redick on going with Jaxson Hayes over Ayton to close Game 2
“He’s been a big key in both these games. … DA and I had a conversation today, it was, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong, that’s not the reason you didn’t finish the game. It’s just the group out there was winning.’” - JJ Redick on going with Jaxson Hayes over Ayton to close Game 2 pic.twitter.com/UnqfEHgsME
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 23, 2026
“Them helping out guys on the bench and just watching the game from that view,” Lakers reserve center Jaxson Hayes said. “You can see different things that you don’t necessarily see when you’re in the game. They’re able to tell guys stuff and help out as much as possible.”
On Monday, after the Lakers team practice ahead of their Game 2 matchup with the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Hayes said he had received his Slovenian passport, thereby making him eligible to suit up alongside his teammate, Luka Doncic, for the Slovenia men’s national basketball team. “We got my Slovenian passport,” Hayes said, grinning. “It really came through. Luka’s been calling me ‘my Slovenian brother.’ He says it all the time.”
Team USA’s roster is constructed by invite only, and Hayes isn’t likely to receive one soon. There’s just one problem. Hayes doesn’t know the language and everything he’s learned from Doncic has been curse words. “I don’t know a single word,” Hayes admitted, laughing. “Actually I know a few… but I can’t say them out loud.”
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Dave McMenamin: “It's nice getting a few days off. Especially with my job, I jump a lot and I run a lot, so it's hard for me to rest something like that. Getting those days off was very much needed” - Jaxson Hayes on how his sore left foot has improved after missing the last four games
“It's nice getting a few days off. Especially with my job, I jump a lot and I run a lot, so it's hard for me to rest something like that. Getting those days off was very much needed” - Jaxson Hayes on how his sore left foot has improved after missing the last four games pic.twitter.com/VHVQ5ukaGz
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 14, 2026
Benjamin Royer: Jaxson Hayes said he could sense that JJ Redick could be a good coach when they were teammates in NOLA. I asked him if he felt the same way about Marcus Smart: "I could definitely see Marcus being a coach. I feel like him- (Hayes paused)." "Probably just him on the team."
Law Murray: The Los Angeles Lakers have upgraded Jaxson Hayes (foot) to questionable for regular season finale vs Jazz LeBron James is questionable. If he plays, full Game 1 roster could be available Sunday
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Grant Afseth: Final: Mavericks 134, Lakers 128 Cooper Flagg: 45 PTS, 8 REB, 9 AST P.J. Washington: 15 PTS, 5 REB Naji Marshall: 13 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST LeBron James: 30 PTS, 9 REB, 15 AST Jaxson Hayes: 23 PTS, 4 REB Rui Hachimura: 21 PTS, 7 REB Dallas (25-53) faces the Clippers next.
The Lakers aren't expected to take that $50 million and give it to another star instead of James. They have interest in re-signing Reaves, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard, team sources told ESPN, not to mention Hachimura, if the price is right. Reaves will decline a $14.9 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency, sources familiar with his plans told ESPN. He will have a $20.9 million free agent cap hold, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, which will leave Los Angeles at that $50 million cap space number no matter how close Reaves' new deal comes to the five-year, $241 million max contract he is eligible to sign.
StatMuse: Jaxson Hayes vs Indiana: 21 PTS, 10 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 9-11 FG. Joins JaVale McGee & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only Lakers with 20/10/2s/2b on 80+ FG%.
