Naturalized! Officially joining forces with Doncic! Hello, NBA first-round pick!

The Slovenian Basketball Federation officially announced: Jaxson Hayes has officially become a Slovenian citizen.

However, he will not take part in the World Cup qualifiers for the time being the naturalization process still requires supplementary paperwork.

Earlier, the Slovenian men's basketball team released a preliminary 17-player squad for the World Cup qualifiers, which did not include either Doncic or Hayes.

Doncic, who has always enthusiastic about playing for his country, but he had to skip representing the Slovenian team this summer due to matters related to the custody battle for his daughter.

Born on May 23, 2000, Hayes stands 2.13 meters tall with a 2.22-meter wingspan. He was the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 draft. Last regular season, he played 66 games for the Lakers, averaging 18.2 minutes per game and contributing 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, with a field goal percentage of 75.6%. In this year's playoffs, he averaged 16.2 minutes per game, recording 5.7 points and 3.2 rebounds, with a shooting percentage of 67.9%.

It is worth noting that Hayes is now a completelyfree agent. However, considering his connection with the Lakers' new face, Doncic, and his fairly solid performance as a backup center last season (with a salary of $3.5 million), he performed commendably. It is highly likely that he will receive a contract extension from the Lakers during this summer's offseason.

Hayes' athleticism is simply exciting; he often ignites the crowd with spectacular dunks during games. Doncic particularly enjoys playing with big men who don't require much ball possession and who are skilled at catching and finishing. The pair indeed showcased great chemistry during their previous collaboration.

In short, Hayes is a cost-effective interior player. it seems unlikely that the Lakers would let him go unless he decides to leave for a bigger contract offer from another team.

Recently, Lakers reporter Dan Woike stated: " The Lakers will prioritize re-signing Hayes and Rui Hachimura to build the best possible lineup around Doncic "; Hachimura had an impressive playoff run this year, averaging 17.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while hitting 3.3 three-pointers per game at a 56.9% clip. Consequently, his market value has risen; his previous contract was for 3 years and $51 million.

Undoubtedly, the Lakers are about to enter a new era, one fully dominated by Doncic.