Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes to Join Slovenian National Team With Luka Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes is officially eligible to play with the Slovenia men’s national basketball team. On Monday, Hayes told reporters he received his Slovenian passport. “We got my Slovenian passport,” Hayes said, per the New York Post .
“It really came through. Luka’s been calling me ‘my Slovenian brother. ’ He says it all the time.
” The Slovenian national team allows one naturalized citizen on their roster for international competitions, according to ESPN . Hayes, who is a Norman, Oklahoma native, will now be able to fill that spot. Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) reacts after a dunk in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.
com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images When Hayes initially started the naturalization process in October, he told reporters that Team USA’s selection process was a big reason why he wanted to play for Slovenia. Hayes said he would love to represent the US but Team USA does not allow open tryouts.
“USA doesn’t do open tryouts,” Hayes said in October, per ESPN . “And I feel like there are guys they invite to the USA [training camp] that shouldn’t be there. So, I wanted to just play on that stage … I’m going to do whatever it takes to play on that stage.