From the first day Luka Doncic arrived in California and donned a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, it was clear that the rest of the roster was going to benefit.
The attention he draws on offense, the added exposure he brings to the team, and his elite playmaking instincts all benefit LA's roster. However, no one has benefited from Luka's arrival quite like Jaxson Hayes.
Given Hayes is a rim-running, athletic lob threat, it was fair to assume that he and Luka were bound to develop a ton of on-court chemistry. But I'm not sure anyone ever expected that chemistry to carry off the court the way it has.
Back in October of 2025, Hayes began filing paperwork to obtain a Slovenian passport, hoping to compete with Luka on a world stage. After several months, Hayes confirmed that he has successfully obtained his Slovenian passport.
🚨 Jaxon Hayes received his Slovenian passport and is expected to join Luka Doncic on the national team this summer.
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) April 20, 2026
Hayes says Luka keeps teasing him at practice, calling him “my Slovenian brother!” 😂
(Via @michaeljduarte) pic.twitter.com/BJdJTWSXQ6
Hayes is originally from Oklahoma, and given the talent on the Team USA, he was unlikely to ever get a chance to compete at the Olympic level, making this an incredible opportunity. From a bigger picture perspective, Hayes getting his Slovenian passport to team up with Luka may have just secured his Lakers future.
Doncic and Hayes have made the Lakers' decision for them
This summer, Hayes is set to enter free agency. The 2025-26 season has been a good one for the former top-10 pick, as with the center position full of question marks, Hayes has been rather consistent and impactful.
During the regular season, he averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in under 20 minutes per game, while shooting 75.6 percent from the field across 66 games.
These numbers and his impact off the bench alone should make Rob Pelinka interested in bringing back Hayes. Then, you factor in a move that would keep Luka happy—it feels like a no-brainer.
When you have a bona fide top-five player in the world in the prime of his career, like the Lakers have with Luka, keeping them happy and around is always going to be priority one. The NBA is a league run by star players, and front offices have to realize that.
Whether it's having the snacks they like in team facilities, having the team bus at the temperature they want, or re-signing a player that they are close to, these are things teams need to do to retain their superstars. By bringing back Hayes this summer, LA has an easy way to boost Luka's morale.
The on-court chemistry and off-court friendship Hayes and Doncic have developed may already be enough to keep Hayes in LA next season. Now, with him set to team up with the Lakers franchise player on the Slovenian national team, LA’s backup center appears to have secured a long-term future in Hollywood.
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