By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jaxson Hayes officially finalized his paperwork to become a naturalized Slovenian citizen.
The 25-year-old big of the Los Angeles Lakers confirmed the completion of the process following Monday’s team practice, a move that allows him to join forces with superstar teammate Luka Doncic on the global stage. Hayes noted that the transition has been a frequent point of conversation in the locker room, remarking, “We got my Slovenian passport. That’s all he’s been telling me, saying he’s my Slovenian brother every time.”
His roster addition to the senior national team of Slovenia arrives before the next FIBA window in July, with a 3-1 record sitting atop Group H of the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. With Hayes now eligible, the Mojtim is positioned to bolster its interior presence for key upcoming fixtures. The team is scheduled to travel to Estonia before returning home to host Sweden in July, aiming to secure a berth in the final qualifying stage set to begin in August.
While the prospect of a Hayes-Doncic international duo looms on the horizon, the immediate focus for the Lakers remains the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, navigating the absence of the 27-year-old combo guard, who is currently sidelined with a left hamstring strain. With his side up 1-0, Doncic has been officially ruled out for Tuesday’s Game 2 of the first-round best-of-seven series against the Houston Rockets, after recently returning to Los Angeles following specialized treatment in Spain and participating in non-contact drills on Monday.
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