US EditionLakers’ Jaxson Hayes Pursuing Slovenian Passport to Play Alongside Luka Doncic
Hayes seeks Slovenian citizenship to join Luka Doncic on the national team amid USA Basketball's closed tryout system and Slovenia's 2027 World Cup qualifying efforts.
- On October 19, 2025, Jaxson Hayes said he is pursuing a Slovenian passport to play alongside Luka Doncic as a naturalized player on the Slovenia national team.
- Hayes says his decision stems from USA Basketball's lack of open tryouts, and Bill Duffy, sports agent , along with Luka Doncic's family, first raised the Slovenia idea.
- FIBA rules state each national team can have one naturalized player and six qualifying windows start in November, but only two fall outside the NBA season.
- After tests showed no major damage, the Lakers reported Jaxson Hayes suffered a light right-wrist sprain but expects to be ready for Tuesday's opener against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
- Slovenia's competitive calendar — including the 2027 World Cup — means Bill Duffy's track record with naturalized players fits Slovenia national team's strategic plans after its EuroBasket quarterfinal finish.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The question is once again whether Luka Dončić's Los Angeles Lakers teammate Jaxson Hayes will indeed join forces with the Slovenian star on the Slovenian national team. Hayes could quickly take over the role of the team's starting center if naturalized.
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes wants to experience playing for the national team, and J. J. Redick supports the idea.
US basketball player Jaxson Hayes announced that he recently applied for Slovenian citizenship because he has not yet been included in the US national team's plans.
"You can barely stay on the Lakers" - NBA fans stirred as Jaxson Hayes seeks Slovenian passport in hopes of pairing with Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic and Jaxson Hayes have been teammates in the LA Lakers for just half a season. Still, Hayes has expressed his willingness to have Doncic as a teammate even for the Slovenian national team.
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