The Lakers beat the SUNS 107-96 at home, finally ending a four-game losing streak, Hayes returned to serve as the starting centre and finished with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists on 8-of-10 shooting. Hayes’ central threat made the attack easier for Doncic. After the game, Doncic also admitted that the return of Hayes helped him a lot.
The Lakers’ mid-season trade changed Hayes’ career trajectory, especially with Doncic’s arrival, turning him into a “pie king.” For Hayes, it was a great blessing to be Doncic’s partner in his contract year,
For the first six and a half years of his NBA career, Hayes was considered the archetype of wasted talent. With a height of 2.13 meters and an arm span of 2.22 meters, he has been praised as a “talent for many years” for his athletic talent, but he has been unable to sit in the rotation of Pelicans, and his reputation has been damaged by a domestic abuse lawsuit. After a four-year rookie contract expired, Hayes joined the Lakers with a minimum salary and was mediocre last season and the first half of this one.
However, in the Lakers, Hayes rediscovered his positioning, he is no longer blindly expanding his playing style, but to the best of the best. The Lakers coaching staff made it clear that Hayes wasn’t required to develop the 3-pointer but to focus on eating cakes and protecting the basket. The strategy has paid off dramatically, with Hayes showing marked improvement on both the offensive and defensive ends.
The arrival of Doncic made Hayes even more impressive. His central threat unlocks Doncic’s strongest offensive form and makes Doncic more comfortable on the offensive end. When Hayes is on the court, Doncic’s assist numbers increase significantly, giving away 13 assists per 100 possessions, while dropping to 9.5. When Hayes catches a pass from Doncic, he makes 82.4 per cent of his attempts.
In addition to the tacit coordination on the offensive end, Hayes also showed the level of top rim protector on the defensive end. Since Doncic’s debut, opponents have shot just 47.5 per cent when Hayes guards the rim. His defensive awareness and position sense have improved significantly, becoming a highlight of the Lakers’ defence.
Hayes is no longer the young player who was in the Pelicans’ rotation. His performance with the Lakers was impressive and earned him more opportunities and recognition. Hayes is sure to have a new contract this offseason. Whether he stays with the Lakers or not, he has already proven his worth and quality. For Hayes, the future was full of possibilities.
