Jaxson Hayes Bio
Jaxson Reed Hayes is an American-born, naturalized Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the center position and stands 7 feet 0 inches tall. Selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, Hayes had his draft rights traded to the New Orleans Pelicans on draft night. He spent his first four professional seasons developing in New Orleans before joining the Lakers in 2023, where he has since served as a rotation big man and occasional starter.
Hayes played one season of college basketball at the University of Texas, where he was recognized as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. He helped Texas win the 2019 National Invitation Tournament and, in the same year, declared for the NBA draft. In 2023, he was part of an NBA Cup championship run with the Lakers during the inaugural in-season tournament.
Early Life and Background
Jaxson Reed Hayes was born on May 23, 2000, in Norman, Oklahoma. He is the son of Jonathan Hayes, a former National Football League tight end who later served as the head coach of the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks, and Kristi Kinne, a former standout basketball player at Drake University. Hayes grew up in a deeply athletic household, and his mother went on to work as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Oklahoma, Iowa, and Southern Illinois–Carbondale.
Hayes attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he experienced a significant growth spurt during his teenage years. He entered high school at around six feet tall and grew to 6 feet 11 inches by his senior season. As a senior, he averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks per game, drawing attention from college recruiters across the country. In the summer of 2018, he represented Team Ohio at the Junior International Tournament in Lissone, Italy, helping the squad capture its fifth title at the event.
After completing his high school career, Hayes committed to the University of Texas to play college basketball. His combination of size, shot-blocking ability, and finishing around the rim made him a priority recruit for the Longhorns program.
Path to Basketball
Hayes arrived at the University of Texas as a highly regarded freshman prospect and immediately stepped into a meaningful role for the Longhorns. He averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 72.8 percent from the field, an efficient mark that showcased his strengths as a rim-runner and lob threat. He scored a career-high 19 points with seven rebounds, two steals, and a block in a 69–56 loss to TCU during the season.
His lone college campaign was capped by multiple individual awards. Hayes was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, earned Second-Team All-Big 12 recognition, and landed on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. He also helped Texas capture the 2019 National Invitation Tournament title. On April 11, 2019, Hayes declared for the NBA draft, forfeiting his remaining three years of college eligibility to turn professional.
Jaxson Hayes Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
On June 20, 2019, the Atlanta Hawks selected Hayes with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. His draft rights, along with those of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada plus a heavily protected 2020 first-round pick, were then traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the rights to De’Andre Hunter and Solomon Hill. The deal was officially completed on July 7, 2019.
Hayes made his NBA debut on October 10, 2019, scoring 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting against the Golden State Warriors in an 11-point loss. On November 17, 2019, he made his first career start in place of the injured Derrick Favors, recording his first double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in a 108–100 victory over Golden State. He went on to log multiple double-doubles as a rookie and built a reputation as an athletic, shot-blocking center.
New Orleans Pelicans Era (2019–2023)
Across his first two seasons, Hayes continued to develop as a rotation player in New Orleans. He posted a then-career-high 20 points against the Boston Celtics in January 2020, and he matched a season-high 19 points in a May 2021 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. His role fluctuated as the Pelicans adjusted their frontcourt combinations.
The 2021–22 season marked a turning point in his development. After a brief assignment to the Pelicans’ NBA G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, in December 2021, Hayes returned to the NBA rotation and eventually moved into the starting lineup. He registered a season-high 23 points with seven rebounds in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on January 1, 2022, and later added 23 points with 12 rebounds in a win over the Sacramento Kings that helped New Orleans clinch a play-in tournament spot. He averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game over the final 23 games of the regular season. The Pelicans reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018, where they were eliminated in six games by the Phoenix Suns. During Game 3 of that series, Hayes was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul on Jae Crowder.
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2023–Present)
On July 6, 2023, Hayes signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent. During the 2023–24 season, he appeared in 70 games and averaged 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game, providing depth behind the team’s primary big men. He was part of the Lakers’ roster that won the 2023 NBA Cup, the league’s first in-season tournament championship.
Following the trade of Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, Hayes started 35 games for the Lakers during the 2024–25 season. In 56 total appearances that year, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. On July 3, 2025, Hayes re-signed with Los Angeles on a one-year contract to remain with the franchise.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hayes is known for his athleticism, length, and finishing ability around the basket. Standing 7 feet tall with a strong vertical leap, he thrives as a rim-runner in pick-and-roll situations and as a lob threat on lobs from guards. He is also valued as a rim protector, and his shot-blocking instincts earned him a place on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team during his freshman year at Texas.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Hayes’ career came during his rookie season opener, when he scored 19 points on highly efficient shooting in his NBA debut. He later won the 2023 NBA Cup with the Lakers and was part of a Pelicans team that ended a long postseason drought in 2022. His selection as the eighth overall pick in 2019 also stands as one of the top draft placements of his career.
Jaxson Hayes Career Wins
Across his professional career, Jaxson Hayes has collected two verified team championships. His first major title came during his lone college season, when the Texas Longhorns won the 2019 National Invitation Tournament. He later added an NBA championship trophy as a member of the 2023 NBA Cup-winning Los Angeles Lakers roster.
Team and Tournament Highlights
In college, Hayes anchored the frontcourt of a Texas team that captured the NIT championship in 2019. As a professional, he played a supporting role for the Lakers squad that lifted the 2023 NBA Cup, the league’s inaugural in-season tournament title. He has notched multiple individual double-doubles during his NBA career, including a 23-point, 12-rebound performance against the Sacramento Kings in 2022.
Other Performances
Beyond his championship seasons, Hayes posted standout individual outings, including a 20-point game against the Boston Celtics as a rookie and a 23-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in January 2022. He has also represented his country at the youth level, leading Team Ohio to the title at the 2018 Junior International Tournament in Italy.
Jaxson Hayes Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jaxson Hayes comes from a prominent athletic family. His father, Jonathan Hayes, played tight end in the National Football League and later served as the head coach of the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL. His mother, Kristi Kinne, starred at Drake University, where she was a Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and an honorable mention Kodak All-American.
Personal Life
Hayes has three siblings who have also pursued college athletics. His sister Jillian is a starting forward for the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team, his brother Jewett plays defensive end at the University of Virginia, and his brother Jonah rounds out the family. Hayes is a U.S. citizen who has also obtained Slovenian citizenship, and he has expressed interest in representing the Slovenian national basketball team in international competition.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season marked a new chapter for Hayes with the Los Angeles Lakers. Following the midseason trade of Anthony Davis, he was elevated into a larger role and started 35 games for the club. In 56 total appearances, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while serving as a rim protector and lob target in the team’s offense.
On July 3, 2025, Hayes re-signed with the Lakers on a one-year contract, signaling the franchise’s continued confidence in his development. Looking ahead, Hayes is expected to remain a rotation piece in Los Angeles while also pursuing a path to represent Slovenia in international basketball. His combination of size, athleticism, and shot-blocking instincts gives him a clear role as the team builds its frontcourt around younger stars and veteran contributors.
