Jaxson Hayes, 25-year-old center of the Los Angeles Lakers, is looking for a big break on a new international ballroom. He dreams of playing for Slovenia, together with superstar player Luka Doncic. Hayes – at a commanding 7-feet – cuts an equally intimidating figure. He cannot wait to get with his Slovenian national team this summer, as they continue their preparations for this fall’s FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Hayes should take heart from Doncic’s recent rookie success. Doncic approaches the 2025 EuroBasket having led Slovenia to the quarterfinals. It was on that huge stage that Doncic appeared to step into his dominance, exploding for an impressive 34.7 points per game during the tournament. The Slovenian team’s incredible success has inspired Hayes to take an interest in representing them. He was intrigued by the extremely competitive process for USA Basketball’s men’s national team, which only intensified his fire to pursue this opportunity.
Even more interestingly, the Slovenian national team has a home-grown rule that allows one naturalized citizen on its roster for international tournaments. Hayes is in the process of getting a passport to take that place. His agent, Bill Duffy of WME Sports, represents other high-profile athletes such as Steve Nash and Anthony Randolph. Aiken is a big proponent of Hayes’ new effort.
Former NBA player and current ESPN analyst JJ Redick has been bullish on Hayes’ dreams. He remarked on the benefits of playing alongside Doncic, stating, “Then you’re learning a different way to play, in some ways. The international game is very different. I think for him, if it ends up happening, getting that connection and chemistry with Luka would be awesome.”
While Hayes is proud to have already earned the opportunity to represent the United States, his sights are set on this next possible opportunity. “Obviously, I would love to go represent my own country, but we don’t do open tryouts,” he stated, indicating the complexities involved in national team selections.
Slovenia prepare for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in Doha, Qatar. Adding Hayes to the lineup would inject some much-needed size and skill into the Senators forwards corps. He’s excited by the idea of running the court alongside Doncic. Tenpin Bowling It’s a perfect fit for his stated aim of broader international experience in a competitive environment.
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