Should Hayes be in contention for the starting job?
The Los Angeles Lakers needed someone to step up against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, and Jaxson Hayes answered without hesitation.
With Deandre Ayton sidelined due to back soreness, Hayes slid into the starting lineup and turned in one of his best performances of the season, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in a 137-130 victory.
"I was just doing my job, and the guys were finding me," Hayes told reporters after the game. "When you have players like LeBron, Luka, and AR, they're going to attract double teams. I just try to get in positions where they can find me after and if they need the outlet or anything."
A Career Night at the Right Time
What stood out most was not just the stat line but the way Hayes got there.
He shot 9-for-11 from the field, which put him in rare company alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and JaVale McGee as the only Lakers to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks while shooting 80 percent or better.
And the whole thing came in front of his family, with Hayes growing up about 90 minutes from Indianapolis in Cincinnati.
The win capped a dominant 5-1 road trip for the Lakers, who now sit at 47-26 and third in the Western Conference.
JJ Redick praised Hayes' energy after the game, specifically pointing to the way he ran the floor to start the third quarter and set the tone on both ends.
That performance makes you wonder if the Lakers should think bigger when it comes to Hayes' role going forward.
Why Hayes Over Ayton Is Not Crazy
Look, nobody is saying Ayton is a bad player. He is averaging 12.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season and has been the steady hand the Lakers counted on when they brought him in.
But the numbers only tell part of the story, and over the past few weeks, the eye test has been telling a different one.
Hayes has been a force in recent outings, recording multiple blocks in four straight games and scoring in double figures in back-to-back contests heading into the Pacers game.
His connection with Luka Doncic in the pick-and-roll has been one of the more exciting developments of the second half, and it is no secret that Hayes' athleticism creates vertical spacing that opens up lobs and dump-offs in ways that Ayton's more grounded game simply does not.
There is also the chemistry and toughness factor that Hayes brings.
He does the dirty work and defends teammates on the court, which goes a long way in a locker room.
The Lakers are 6-2 in games Hayes has started this season, and his energy has been one of the more underrated parts of their rotation all year.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers return home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, followed by matchups against the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers.
It is unclear whether Hayes will stay in the starting lineup now that Ayton has been cleared from the injury report, but his performance in Indiana gave JJ Redick something real to think about as the playoffs get closer.
Sometimes the best thing a player can do is exactly what Hayes described after the game. Just do your job and let the rest take care of itself.