 Hayes withTexas in 2018 | |
| No. 11 – Los Angeles Lakers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2000-05-23)May 23, 2000 (age 25) Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
| College | Texas (2018–2019) |
| NBA draft | 2019: 1st round, 8th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Atlanta Hawks |
| Playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2023 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2023–present | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Jaxson Reed Hayes (born May 23, 2000) is an American professionalbasketball player for theLos Angeles Lakers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theTexas Longhorns.
Hayes attendedMoeller High School inCincinnati, Ohio.[1] He grew from six feet (1.8 m) as a freshman to 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) as a senior.[2] In 2018 he took part in the Junior International Tournament (JIT), inLissone, Italy, leading Team Ohio to the win of its fifth title.[3] As a senior, he averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks per game. He committed to theUniversity of Texas to play college basketball.[4][5]
As a freshman at Texas, Hayes averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 72.8% from the field. He scored a career-high 19 points along with seven boards, two steals and a block in a 69–56 loss toTCU. Hayes injured his left knee in a loss toKansas in theBig 12 tournament. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. On April 11, 2019, Hayes declared for the NBA draft, forfeiting his remaining three years of eligibility.[6]
On June 20, 2019, theAtlanta Hawks selected Hayes with the eighth overall pick of the2019 NBA draft and then had his draft rights traded, along with the draft rights toNickeil Alexander-Walker andDidi Louzada, plus a heavily protected 2020 first-round pick, to theNew Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights toDe'Andre Hunter andSolomon Hill. The trade was officially completed on July 7.[7]
Hayes made his NBA debut for the Pelicans on October 10, 2019, scoring 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting against theGolden State Warriors in an 11-point loss.[8] On November 17, he made his first career start in place of the injuredDerrick Favors, achieving his firstdouble-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds along with 3 blocks in a 108–100 victory over the Golden State Warriors.[9] On January 9, 2020, Hayes recorded his second NBA double-double, scoring 14 points and adding 12 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks in under 24 minutes of play.[10] Days later, Hayes recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in a victory over theNew York Knicks, tallying consecutive double-doubles for the first time in his NBA career.[11] The following night, Hayes posted a then-career-high 20 points in a 35-point loss to theBoston Celtics.[12]
On May 7, 2021, Hayes scored a season-high 19 points in a 107–109 loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers.[13] On May 14, he matched this total in a 122–125 loss to theGolden State Warriors.[14]
Hayes saw minimal playing time to start the 2021–22 season. On December 6, 2021, the Pelicans assigned him to theirNBA G League affiliate, theBirmingham Squadron.[15] He was recalled from the G League two days later.[16] On January 1, 2022, Hayes registered a season-high 23 points, alongside seven rebounds, in a 113–136 loss to theMilwaukee Bucks.[17] He again scored 23 points, alongside twelve rebounds, on April 5, 2022, during a 123–109 win over theSacramento Kings that helped the Pelicans clinch aplay-in tournament spot.[18] During the second half of the season, Hayes moved into the starting lineup and averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game over the last 23 games of the season.[19] The Pelicans qualified for their first playoff appearance since 2018 after play-in wins over theSan Antonio Spurs andLos Angeles Clippers.[20][21]
The Pelicans faced thePhoenix Suns during the first round of the playoffs. On April 22, 2022, during a 111–114 game 3 loss, Hayes was ejected after receiving aflagrant 2 foul for pushing Suns forwardJae Crowder.[22] Hayes finished the game with four points and six rebounds in only ten minutes of action.[23] The Pelicans wound up losing the series in six games.
On July 6, 2023, Hayes signed with theLos Angeles Lakers.[24] He made 70 appearances for the team during the2023–24 NBA season, averaging 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.
Hayes started 35 games in the2025 NBA season for the Lakers following theAnthony Davis trade to theDallas Mavericks.[25] In 56 total appearances for the team during the2024–25 NBA season, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist.
On July 3, 2025, Hayes re-signed with Los Angeles on a one-year contract.[26]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | New Orleans | 64 | 14 | 16.9 | .672 | .250 | .647 | 4.0 | .9 | .4 | .9 | 7.4 |
| 2020–21 | New Orleans | 60 | 3 | 16.1 | .625 | .429 | .775 | 4.3 | .6 | .4 | .6 | 7.5 |
| 2021–22 | New Orleans | 70 | 28 | 20.0 | .616 | .351 | .766 | 4.5 | .6 | .5 | .8 | 9.3 |
| 2022–23 | New Orleans | 47 | 2 | 13.0 | .551 | .103 | .699 | 2.8 | .7 | .4 | .4 | 5.0 |
| 2023–24 | L.A. Lakers | 70 | 5 | 12.5 | .720 | .000 | .622 | 3.0 | .5 | .5 | .4 | 4.3 |
| 2024–25 | L.A. Lakers | 56 | 35 | 19.5 | .722 | .000 | .622 | 4.8 | 1.0 | .5 | .9 | 6.8 |
| Career | 367 | 87 | 16.4 | .649 | .261 | .696 | 3.9 | .7 | .5 | .7 | 6.8 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | New Orleans | 6 | 6 | 13.8 | .560 | .000 | .636 | 2.5 | .2 | .0 | .3 | 5.8 |
| 2024 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | 0 | 6.0 | .000 | — | .500 | 3.0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .3 |
| 2025 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | 4 | 7.8 | .375 | — | .500 | 2.0 | .3 | .0 | .3 | 1.8 |
| Career | 14 | 10 | 9.8 | .486 | .000 | .600 | 2.5 | .2 | .0 | .2 | 3.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Texas | 32 | 21 | 23.3 | .728 | – | .740 | 5.0 | .3 | .6 | 2.2 | 10.0 |
Hayes father,Jonathan Hayes, played in theNational Football League (NFL) and was the head coach of theXFL'sSt. Louis BattleHawks.[27] His mother, Kristi (Kinne), played basketball atDrake University (1991–95) and earned honorable mentionKodak All-American accolades andMissouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior (1994–95). She recorded 3,406 career points during her four years (1987–91) at Jefferson-Scranton High School inJefferson, Iowa. She previously served as an assistant women's basketball coach atOklahoma,Iowa, andSouthern Illinois–Carbondale. Hayes has three siblings: Jillian, who is in her fifth year as a starting forward at theUniversity of Cincinnati; Jewett, a defensive end at theUniversity of Virginia; and Jonah.
Hayes was arrested on July 28, 2021, and resisted arrest by theLos Angeles Police Department. Officers were investigating a radio call that involved a domestic dispute between Hayes and his girlfriend. Hayes shoved an officer into a wall and was treated for minor injuries before being taken into custody.[28] Hayespleaded no-contest to misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and resisting an officer, and was sentenced to community service, one year of weekly domestic violence classes, and three years' probation. Hayes was not disciplined by the NBA, in apparent violation of league policy.[29]
In November 2024,TMZ published surveillance video of Hayes pushing his girlfriend, spitting at her, preventing her from exiting the house, and pulling her back through a doorway. On the video, his girlfriend can be heard saying "I'm not going to let you hit me anymore. What the fuck do I look like, a punching bag?" After the video was released, the NBA reopened its investigation into Hayes' conduct.[29]
In October 2025, Hayes announced he was planning to pursue a passport to play forSlovenia, the home country of teammateLuka Doncic. Doncic and Hayes share the same agent, who also representedAnthony Randolph, a member of the Slovenian team that wonEuroBasket 2017. The Slovenian national team allows for one naturalized citizen and Hayes cited the lack of open tryouts for the US team as a reason.[30]
Media related toJaxson Hayes at Wikimedia Commons