Lakers Center to Join Dončić on Slovenian National Team

Jaxson Hayes has officially been granted Slovenian citizenship, paving the way for his debut with the Slovenian national team.

The 25-year-old Los Angeles Lakers center confirmed the news, expressing his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside his teammate Luka Dončić on the international stage. He mentioned that the topic had often been a source of locker room banter, with Dončić frequently referring to him as “my Slovenian brother.”

Hayes is expected to join the squad for the next FIBA window in July. Slovenia currently leads Group H in the European qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup with a 3-1 record.

Gosho Metodiev