Jaxson Hayes

Jaxson Reed Hayes, born on the 23rd of May in 2000, is a professional basketball player currently representing the Los Angeles Lakers team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began his journey to becoming a professional athlete only in high school, growing from a height of six feet during his freshman year to 6’11” by his senior year at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. His significant growth spurt not only added a substantial edge to his game, but it also played a significant role in steering his basketball career.

In 2018, Hayes marked his incredible performance in the Junior International Tournament (JIT) held in Lissone, Italy. Displaying exceptional leadership, he guided his Team Ohio to the finals and ultimately secured its fifth tournament title victory. In his senior year, Hayes proved himself a force to be reckoned with on the court, averaging 12 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks per game.

Committed to honing his basketball skills, Hayes moved on to college basketball and joined the University of Texas team. As a freshman, he averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game with an impressive shooting record of 72.8% from the field. Despite experiencing a knee injury setback during the Big 12 Tournament, Hayes bounced back to earn the title of Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Recognizing his remarkable talent, Hayes chose to take his career to the next level by declaring for the NBA draft in April of 2019.

The Atlanta Hawks picked Hayes as the eighth overall in the 2019 NBA draft. However, Hayes’ draft rights, along with those of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada were shortly traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in an arrangement that saw De’Andre Hunter and Solomon Hill move to Atlanta. The deal was finalized on July 7, 2019. October of the same year, Hayes made his NBA debut with the Pelicans, scoring 19 points against the formidable Golden State Warriors. He sustained his momentum and continually improved his performance over time, quickly marking a name for himself in the NBA.

Despite a slow start to the 2021-22 NBA season, Hayes rebounded to contribute significantly to the Pelicans’ second-half success. He averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the latter part of the season, eventually helping the Pelicans clinch their first playoff appearance since 2018. The Pelicans faced the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs, where Hayes was involved in a tense situation involving a flagrant foul that led to his ejection. The Pelicans exited the playoffs after losing the series in six games. Hayes later signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in July of 2023.

Hayes hails from an athletic family, his father, Jonathan Hayes, was an NFL player and later served as the head coach for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks team. His mother, Kristi (Kinne) Hayes, had an outstanding basketball career at Drake University and later served as an assistant coach at Oklahoma, Iowa, and Southern Illinois-Carbondale. His sister Jillian plays varsity basketball at Loveland High School and has committed to the University of Cincinnati, while his brothers Jewett and Jonah also share the family’s passion for sports.

Unfortunately, Hayes found himself embroiled in legal trouble in July 2021 when he was arrested for alleged domestic abuse and resisting arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department. This incident resulted in minor injuries for Hayes and subsequent legal action. The incident showcased a sobering side of the influence fame and fortune can often bring, serving as a reminder of the need for discipline and control in personal life just as in the professional sphere. Despite the adversities he faced, Hayes continues to dominate the basketball court with his towering presence, and demonstrate his commitment to the sport.