Jaxson Hayes Wants To Play For Slovenian National Team

Although he was born in Oklahoma and raised in Ohio, L.A. Lakers center Jaxson Hayes is hoping to obtain a Slovenian passport so that he can play for the Slovenian national team next summer. Yes, that’s right, Slovenia.

By way of his grandfather’s heritage, the 24-year-old big man has been working to become eligible for Slovenian citizenship. While this not only helps him take a step toward playing meaningful offseason competitive basketball, it also provides an opportunity to once again share the court with his Lakers teammate, Luka Dončić.

Hayes' other reason for pursuing alternative methods of playing international basketball comes from his frustrations with Team USA’s selection process. Unlike other FIBA programs, USA Basketball doesn’t hold actual tryouts. Instead, a committee has developed an invitation-only system seemingly based on one’s NBA résumé and star power.

A role player during his six-year NBA tenure with the Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, he only once averaged 20 minutes per game and never more than 9.3 points or 4.8 rebounds. It’s highly unlikely Hayes would get a call from managing director Grant Hill’s selection committee. 

Slovenia offers an alternative opportunity. With a predominantly guard-heavy team, the addition of Hayes gives the team an athletic big man who can play the pick-and-lob with Dončić and provide rim protection on the defensive end.

Don't let Slovenia's size or lack of NBA talent fool you, as they've consistently competed with the elite international competition. They finished fourth in the 2020 Olympics and captured the 2017 EuroBasket championship, all with a population smaller than most NBA cities. Dončić has turned them into legitimate contenders every time FIBA competition rolls around.

For Hayes, this represents more than just summer basketball. It's a chance to get featured minutes in high-level competition rather than playing pickup games and watching Team USA compete against the best the rest of the world has to offer. If the passport paperwork goes through, we could see Hayes representing Slovenia as soon as the next international event takes place outside of the NBA season.