Jaxson Hayes found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons last week, but the young Lakers big man is already working to turn the page. During a recent game against the Washington Wizards, Hayes was involved in an unusual incident that resulted in a one-game suspension-after pushing the Wizards' mascot during warm-ups.
Yes, you read that right. A mascot.
According to Hayes, the shove wasn’t unprovoked. While the team was getting loose pregame, the Wizards mascot reportedly stepped on Hayes’ foot.
In the heat of the moment-when players are dialed in, trying to get their bodies and minds right for tip-off-Hayes reacted. It wasn’t the right move, and he knows it.
“Obviously, I apologize to the team, to the mascot,” Hayes said after the Lakers' game against the Warriors. “We all try to get ourselves in a mental space, in a physical space.
Get ready to go out and play a game. And when I’m stretching and somebody steps on my foot, I might have lost [it].
I should have handled it a different way. And, you know, we live and we learn.
So, just going to keep doing that.”
It was a moment of accountability from the 23-year-old, who didn’t shy away from owning the mistake. And while the league handed down a one-game suspension-costing Hayes a chance to suit up against the Sixers-his return against Golden State showed he’s still very much in the Lakers’ plans.
Back in the lineup on Saturday, Hayes delivered a solid all-around performance in a 105-99 win over the Warriors. He chipped in six points, grabbed four boards, and added a little bit of everything else-an assist, a steal, and a block. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing stat line, but it was the kind of versatile, high-energy effort the Lakers need from him, especially with their frontcourt rotations still taking shape.
More importantly, Hayes got the start. That’s not just a lineup decision-that’s a message. Despite the incident, the Lakers are standing behind their young center.
Head coach JJ Redick made that clear postgame.
“He made an error in judgment, and he owned up to it and apologized,” Redick said. “Hopefully, this is a learning opportunity for him.”
Redick’s words echo what we’ve seen from Hayes throughout his young career: a player with raw talent, still learning the ropes, but willing to grow. The Lakers are betting on that growth. And while no one wants to see a player sidelined for something like this, how Hayes responds might matter more than the incident itself.
For now, he’s back on the court, back in the starting lineup, and back to helping the Lakers push through the grind of the season. As far as redemption arcs go, this one’s off to a solid start.