With Deandre Ayton out for the Lakers’ contest against the Pacers, the team needed Jaxson Hayes to start and help them finish this road trip with a win.
Hayes did just that, playing one of his best games of the year. He ended the night with 21 points and 10 rebounds. This was Hayes’ first double-double of the season and the only instance where he grabbed 10-plus rebounds in a game this year.
While getting a larger roll and wanting to win is motivation enough, an outside influence also gave Hayes an extra boost.
“Obviously, wanted to close the trip on a win,” Hayes said. “But, I mean, I grew up an hour and a half away, so my whole family is here…So, I mean, I was just excited I got to play in front of my parents and stuff.”
It’s easy to just think of these players as just athletes who put on a jersey and perform. But, regardless of fame and fortune, they are regular people like the rest of us. They can get motivated, discouraged and inspired. Clearly, Hayes being around his family in ways he typically can’t during the NBA season invigorated him.
“I went back home with them after Detroit and then got a night at home, drove back up yesterday to Indy last night with my parents,” Hayes said.
Driving to Indy with your parents, like Hayes was heading to an AAU competition rather than an NBA game, had to be pretty cool.
Hayes continued to discuss how great it was to connect with his parents before taking on the Pacers.
“Amazing,” Hayes said. “I got like a home-cooked breakfast for my mom. I woke up, I got to go check out some properties I’m about to buy this summer. Just got to hang out with my dad all day. That’s always fun. And then, drove up here with my mom and dad, got dinner with him. It was awesome. Best way to have the trip, for sure.”
Hayes’ production speaks for itself. He was integral in the win, but what was especially impressive was his consistency. Through all four quarters, he was a ball of energy, driving LA forward. And with plenty of players tired from playing heavy minutes on the road, that level of energy was needed.
“It starts with running the floor for him, in particular to start that third quarter,” head coach JJ Redick said. “He just created a bunch of scoring opportunities for us. These guys, they know how dynamic he is as a roller and they’re looking for him. I thought he did a great job of getting to the spots with pace and then, at times, playing through some contact as well. Just like a number of guys on our team, he ends up with two steals and two blocks.”
Hayes won’t always be able to visit home and get a reset, but it’s great that he got to do this in this moment. This was undoubtedly a cool memory for him, and considering the Lakers typically visit Indiana once a year, he doesn’t get this kind of opportunity often.
Hopefully, he can build on this momentum and bring the joy he experienced in the Midwest back to Los Angeles. Because when he’s smiling, running the floor and dunking emphatically, it benefits everyone. Hayes’ energy is contagious, and when he’s at the top of his game, it raises LA’s potential to another level.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
