Lakers center changes nationality for Luka Doncic reason originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Luka Doncic has taken the NBA by storm ever since he entered the league in 2018, but he’s also very involved in basketball outside of the NBA.
In the various international tournaments, from the Olympics to the FIBA World Cup, Doncic has represented his home country of Slovenia several times.
He’s the country’s star player, and he may be joined by a teammate on the Lakers, the next time he takes the court to represent Slovenia.
Lakers center changes nationality for Luka Doncic reason
Lakers’ center Jaxson Hayes received his Slovenian passport this week (via Iztok Franko).
This could give him the opportunity now to represent and play for Slovenia in international play.
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It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that this was done, as he’ll have a chance to play with teammate Luka Doncic for the country’s national team.
Hayes is a UFA this summer, after spending the last three seasons with the Lakers.
In the 2025-26 NBA season, Hayes averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 66 games played.
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