The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, and while the Bronny James moment stole most of the headlines, Jaxson Hayes had a quietly important night of his own. It was his third straight game scoring in double figures.
The big man broke down exactly what's clicked for him in year six after the contest. His development as a decision maker out of the pick and roll has been one of the more encouraging subplots of this run, and he articulated the change in his game with a clarity that suggests he's thought hard about it.
"When they shock and blitz us, it's just playing out of the pocket," Hayes said. "I feel like just taking my time, that's the biggest thing, biggest change I've made this year is taking my time in the pocket, making the right reads."
The biggest adjustment he described here is patience. When defenses throw a shock blitz at the Lakers' ball handlers, Hayes is no longer trying to force the issue. He's sitting in the pocket, slowing down, and making the right read rather than reacting on instinct.
Mar 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Lakers Jaxson Hayes (11) shoots a free throw against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn ImagesPatience As a Skill
That sounds like a small thing, but at the NBA level it's enormous. Young bigs who can't handle the blitz become a liability in the pick and roll. Defenses figure them out quickly and just keep sending two at the ball handler, knowing the big will panic or make a bad decision.
Hayes has flipped the script this season, and the Lakers are better for it.
"And then on the defensive end, with the switching and playing in coverage, I just feel like my guards have been fighting over the screens real well, and they've just been killing it," Hayes said. "So they're making it easy."
Team Defense Doing Its Part
On the defensive end his growth has been just as noticeable. Hayes credited his guards for making his life easier by fighting hard over screens, which has allowed him to play his coverage assignments more confidently.
Strong defensive cohesion like this comes from repetition, trust, and guys buying into a system together. Hayes acknowledged that directly, and it's the kind of selfless framing you want to hear from a reliable rotation piece.
The Lakers are pushing hard in the Western Conference playoff race, and having a center who can process the game quickly on both ends of the floor is genuinely valuable. Hayes doesn't need to put up a ton of points to be impactful, he just needs to be dependable and smart with the ball in critical moments.
He's been both of those this season. There's something to be said for a player in his seventh pro season who's still finding new levels to his game. Hayes has made a conscious change in how he approaches his role, and the results are showing up in wins.