Jaxson Hayes Is Quietly Becoming a Key Piece for the Lakers - And His Teammates Are Taking Notice
LOS ANGELES - After last season’s playoff run ended with Jaxson Hayes watching from the bench, it would’ve been easy to assume his time in purple and gold was winding down. Instead, the seventh-year center doubled down, re-signing with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season. And so far, that decision is paying off - both for Hayes and for a Lakers squad that’s off to a strong 19-8 start.
Hayes has embraced a critical role this season, stepping in as a starter when Deandre Ayton has been sidelined and bringing his trademark energy off the bench when called upon. He’s not just filling minutes - he’s impacting games with a mix of hustle, athleticism, and, perhaps most notably, growth in an area that’s been a work in progress: his decision-making in the short roll.
After Saturday’s shootaround, Hayes spoke candidly about that evolution in his game.
“There’s definitely always room for improvement,” Hayes said. “I’m trying to play a little slower in the pocket, instead of every time I get in the pocket just running and getting ready to try and go dunk on somebody.
I’m trying to actually read it and make my right read. I feel like it’s evolving a little bit more.”
That growth has been visible on the floor. Known for his explosiveness as a lob threat - especially in pick-and-roll sets with Luka Doncic - Hayes is now showing a more nuanced approach when catching the ball in space. He’s learning to pause, assess the defense, and make the right play, whether that’s a quick kickout to the perimeter or a decisive move to score himself.
The Lakers have leaned on that development, and Hayes has responded with steady production. He’s appeared in 24 games so far, including four starts, averaging just over 17 minutes per game.
His stat line - 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game - doesn’t jump off the page, but his efficiency does. Hayes is shooting a blistering 76.6 percent from the field, and while the free-throw line remains a work in progress (65 percent), he’s even knocked down the only three-point attempt he’s taken this season.
But numbers only tell part of the story. Hayes has become one of the Lakers’ most consistent energy guys - the kind of player who can change the tone of a game with a single possession. Whether it’s a thunderous dunk, a hard roll to the rim that collapses the defense, or a second-effort hustle play, Hayes has found ways to make his presence felt.
And his teammates are noticing.
“I tell him every time, ‘to be honest, you are the best big man I’ve played alongside with when it comes to holding your own,’” Ayton said after practice on Monday. “We have different styles of play. . . he’s a momentum guy - the loud, thunderous dunks, getting the crowd involved, turning up the team.
I’m more about finding a pocket shot. He brings the momentum to the team.”
Ayton didn’t stop there.
“Even the attempts where he falls down sometimes, just letting teams know that you have to watch your head,” he added. “You can’t really ask for much more.
He’s playing on second effort, where talent doesn’t even show really. It’s just him really putting in effort and sacrifice.
I always give him his flowers every game for having my back, especially when I don’t play.”
That kind of praise from a fellow big man - and a former No. 1 overall pick - speaks volumes. Hayes may not be the flashiest name on the Lakers roster, but he’s proving to be one of its most valuable glue guys. He’s showing growth, embracing his role, and bringing the kind of effort that championship teams need from their supporting cast.
For a player who ended last season on the bench, Hayes is writing a different kind of story this year - one built on resilience, development, and impact. And if he keeps playing like this, he won’t just be a fill-in when Ayton sits. He’ll be a fixture in the Lakers’ rotation when it matters most.