Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Jaxson Hayes is an explosive, athletic big man whose speed, leaping ability, and above-the-rim finishing make him an exciting presence around the basket. Whether protecting the rim, catching lobs, or bringing energy off the bench, Hayes uses his physical gifts to make an impact on both ends of the floor.

Here’s a detailed profile of Jaxson Hayes:

  • Full Name: Jaxson Reed Hayes
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on May 23, 2000
  • Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma, USA
  • Height: 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters)
  • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kilograms)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters)
  • Shoe Size: N/A
  • Number: #10 (Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • College: University of Texas at Austin
  • NBA Draft: 2019, 1st round, 8th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks (rights traded to the New Orleans Pelicans)
  • Teams Played For:
    • New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2023)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (2023–present)
  • Championship Rings: None as of now
  • Kids: No publicly available information about children
  • Siblings: Jaxson Hayes has siblings, including a sister named Jillian Hayes, who plays college basketball at the University of Cincinnati.

The player archetype for Jaxson Hayes is an athletic rim-running center whose game is built around speed, length, and vertical finishing. At nearly 7 feet with long arms and explosive leaping ability, he thrives as a lob target in pick-and-roll actions, racing the floor in transition and finishing well above the rim. His defensive value comes from protecting the basket with his reach and mobility, allowing him to challenge shots and recover quickly when plays break down. Hayes remains more effective as a finisher than a creator, rarely operating with the ball in his hands, but his ability to pressure defenses vertically and cover ground defensively gives him a clear role whenever energy and interior athleticism are needed.

Scouting Report

Jaxson Hayes is at his best when the game is moving fast and his responsibilities stay simple. He’s the kind of big who can flip a possession with one explosive dive to the rim, forcing the weak-side defender to choose between giving up a lob or abandoning a corner shooter. What stands out is how much pressure he creates without needing post touches; his value comes from sprinting into drag screens, rolling with purpose, and staying available above the rim rather than demanding the ball on the block. When guards can consistently collapse the defense, Hayes becomes an easy target because he gets off the floor quickly and presents a passing window that many centers simply can’t. The trade-off is that his offensive game becomes much less comfortable when he’s asked to create something for himself. He isn’t a natural hub from the elbows, his passing reads are generally straightforward, and defenders who sit on the roll can limit his involvement if the ball handler can’t force rotations. Defensively, his mobility gives coaches options. He can hedge, recover, switch for short stretches, and cover ground as a weak-side shot blocker, often arriving from the help side rather than meeting scorers chest-to-chest at the rim. The inconsistency comes with the details. There are possessions where he’ll chase the block instead of securing position, mistime a low-man rotation, or pick up unnecessary fouls because his feet stop moving before his hands do. It’s easy to overlook that his best defensive sequences usually come when he stays patient rather than hunting highlights. To me, Hayes fits best alongside a high-level pick-and-roll creator and lineups that emphasize pace, vertical spacing, and constant movement, where his athletic tools become a weapon instead of asking him to carry offensive decision-making. His game shares similarities with JaVale McGee as a rim-running finisher who can alter shots with length, while there are flashes of Chris Andersen in the way he flies into help-side contests and changes the energy of a possession through activity around the basket rather than polished offensive skill.