LOS ANGELES — There’s no question what the Lakers are playing for, and what their collective mindsets are focused on, during this time of the year: compete for an NBA championship.
General Manager Rob Pelinka has made it clear throughout the season that’s the expectation, and said in early February in the aftermath of the organization’s acquisition of All-Star guard Luka Doncic that the urgency to compete for a title is “ever-present.”
Players who have joined the team during the season – specifically Doncic and forward Dorian Finney-Smith – have acknowledged and embraced the Lakers’ championship expectations. Doncic said during his introductory press conference, “You don’t come here for nothing else but championships.”
But for Jaxson Hayes, the final stretch of the regular season and however long the Lakers’ postseason run lasts offer the 24-year-old starting center more than an opportunity to win a ring.
Hayes also has the chance to take advantage of the biggest role on the best team he’s played for to this point in his six-year NBA career before being an unrestricted free agent this summer after the two-year, $4.63 million contract he signed with the Lakers in July 2023 expires.
“I just view it as [an] opportunity to make a name for myself, an opportunity to go win some games and win a ring,” Hayes said Wednesday, ahead of the Lakers’ home game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. “And I just look at it as I gotta come in, locked in every day, and just try to make the most out of every day be the best version of myself.”
Hayes has elevated his game since becoming the Lakers’ full-time starting big man after Anthony Davis’ last game with the team before being traded in early February, averaging 8.7 points (78% shooting), 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in his previous 26 games as a starter entering Thursday.
Hayes immediately benefitted from playing alongside Doncic, one of the league’s best at setting up big men who are lob threats. Hayes averaged 9.6 points on 78.4% shooting in his first 19 games after Doncic’s debut.
Teams have adjusted to the threat Hayes presents as a roller in pick-and-rolls with Doncic, with opponents more frequently having their low man help defender peel in to prevent the lob attempts.
“When teams do that, man, it’s either Luka’s gonna get a bucket or one of the shooters gonna get a bucket,” Hayes said. “They’re pulled in trying to help on my rolls and tackle on my rolls, that means the corner man’s open. So it’s just all about making the right reads.
“I just gotta continue to force overs and continue to roll hard so people come pull into the paint and can try to bring more of their defense in to get other guys open.”
Hayes took three combined shots, scoring five points, in the Lakers’ previous two games entering Thursday.
“It’s all about winning,” he said. “At the end of the day, I don’t care how many shots I’m gonna get. I just get whatever shots you’re giving to me. And so for me, I just want to affect the game and affect the winning.
“If I get zero shots a game, I get zero shots. I’m gonna just try to keep forcing overs on my screens and keep rolling hard so I can clog up the paint, get our shooters open. That’s all I care about.”
And Lakers coach JJ Redick has made it clear it what the team needs from Hayes – fouling less and not arguing with referees as much.
“It’s been a very big topic of discussion, and it’s something I’m trying to work on,” Hayes said. “Obviously I play with a lot of passion and I’m a very passionate player and very energetic player. So sometimes I get on the refs when I feel like they miss ’em, but I gotta remember they’re human too and gotta just focus on the game, focus on myself. So that’s been a big point of emphasis for us and just leaving them alone and focus on myself.”
KLEBER UPDATE
The Lakers announced on Thursday that big man Maxi Kleber has progressed to on-court activities since having right foot surgery on Jan. 30, while he was still with the Dallas Mavericks.
The team added that Kleber, who was seen going through an on-court workout during Wednesday’s practice, will continue his return-to-play process and further updates will be provided “as appropriate.”
