Jaxson Hayes Aims for Slovenian Citizenship to Join Forces with Luka Dončić on the National Team

During a post-preseason press conference after the Lakers’ latest exhibition matchup, center Jaxson Hayes opened up about his connection with Slovenian sensation Luka Dončić.

He also hinted at the possibility of pursuing Slovenian citizenship.

“Luka is my guy. We’re making arrangements to obtain Slovenian citizenship so I can team up with him next summer,” the 25-year-old stated to the media following the Lakers’ 121-94 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas.

Hayes delivered a commendable performance, scoring 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and securing 10 rebounds—marking his best effort of the preseason thus far.

The Slovenian Basketball Federation has confirmed that talks are underway regarding the naturalization of a center to bolster the national team.

“As mentioned previously, we are considering the addition of a new naturalized player in the center position. Our goal is to have this player on board for an extended period to ensure the team’s stability in the years ahead. At this point, we are unable to reveal any names or specific details. Once everything is finalized and the necessary procedures are completed, we will share the information with the public,” a spokesperson from the federation stated, according to rtvslo.si.

Hayes was selected as the 8th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, began his career with the New Orleans Pelicans, and joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. Over his six seasons in the league, he has played in 367 regular-season games, averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds.