Lakers' Hayes keen to play for Slovenia with Luka

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Jaxson Hayes enjoys playing with Luka Doncic truthful overmuch connected the Los Angeles Lakers that the 7-footer is trying to walk his summers playing for the Slovenian nationalist squad with Doncic, too.

Hayes said Sunday that his and Doncic's agent, Bill Duffy of WME Sports, broached the thought with Hayes astir playing for Slovenia adjacent earlier Doncic was traded to Los Angeles past winter.

The 25-year-old center, who was calved successful Norman, Oklahoma, said the Slovenian nationalist squad allows 1 naturalized national connected its roster for planetary competitions, and Hayes is pursuing a Slovenian passport to inhabit that spot.

Part of Hayes' information was fueled by USA Basketball's enactment process for its men's nationalist team.

"USA doesn't bash unfastened tryouts," Hayes said. "And I consciousness similar determination are guys they invitation to the USA [training camp] that shouldn't beryllium there. So, I wanted to conscionable play connected that signifier ... I'm going to bash immoderate it takes to play connected that stage."

Duffy besides represented Anthony Randolph, a German-born American player, who became a naturalized national and helped Slovenia triumph golden successful the 2017 EuroBasket tournament. Duffy besides represented Steve Nash and is simply a large believer successful however Nash's Canada Basketball acquisition helped him go a two-time MVP successful the NBA.

Doncic led Slovenia to the quarterfinals of the 2025 EuroBasket this summertime and averaged 34.7 points per crippled -- the astir by a subordinate successful a azygous EuroBasket since Nikos Galis averaged 35.6 points for Greece successful 1989.

That Slovenian squad had planned to person different American-born center, Josh Nebo, connected its roster, but the 6-9, 245-pound large man, who played his assemblage shot for Saint Francis and Texas A&M, bowed retired due to the fact that of an injury.

Lakers manager JJ Redick said helium supports Hayes' involvement successful the Slovenian team.

"I looked astatine my USA Basketball experiences and I had a clump of them ... they were each invaluable to maine due to the fact that you're learning astir large players," Redick said. "And then, you're besides learning a antithetic mode to play, successful immoderate ways. The planetary crippled is precise different. And I deliberation for him, if it ends up happening, getting that transportation and chemistry with Luka would beryllium awesome."

The adjacent large lawsuit Slovenia is hoping to enactment successful is the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup successful Doha, Qatar. There are six qualifying windows to gain a spot successful the event, starting successful November, but lone 2 of the windows are extracurricular of the NBA season, making it improbable that Hayes oregon Doncic volition beryllium important contributors.

"Obviously, I would emotion to spell correspond my ain country, but we don't bash unfastened tryouts," Hayes said. "It is what it is."