Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes Faces Injury Before Season Opener

Los Angeles, California – Jaxson Hayes, the Los Angeles Lakers’ backup center, is dealing with a light sprain in his right wrist after leaving a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings early on Friday. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Hayes believes he will be ready for the Lakers’ regular season opener on Tuesday.

During the loss to the Kings, which ended with a score of 117-116, Hayes sustained the injury and was taken out of the game. Hayes expressed determination to play through the injury despite the minor setback. He is expected to serve as the primary backup to new signing Deandre Ayton this season.

In addition to the injury update, Hayes discussed his ambitions about obtaining a Slovenian passport to play international basketball alongside his Lakers teammate Luka Doncic. “We have the same agent, and my parents and his parents are all kind of working on it right now,” Hayes said. “But they came to me with the idea… I wanted to play on that stage, and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to get on that stage.”

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin confirmed Hayes’ seriousness about the plan, noting that discussions about playing internationally had been ongoing for the past year and a half.

With the start of the regular season approaching, the injury to Hayes raises concerns about the depth in the Lakers’ frontcourt. Backup options include 33-year-old veteran Maxi Kleber and two-way signing Christian Koloko, who may see more playing time if Hayes is unable to recover quickly.

In other Lakers news, Hall of Famer Steve Nash has voiced strong opinions about the team’s offseason moves. Meanwhile, discussions have emerged regarding a possible trade involving superstar LeBron James, pointing to a critical moment for the franchise.

As the Lakers prepare for the regular season, fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on Hayes’ recovery and the team’s overall performance.

“It’s going to be an exciting season,” Hayes concluded, assuring fans he is focused on getting back on the court.