Lakers Star Eyes Rapid Return After Setback
Jaxson Hayes has become an important part of the Los Angeles Lakers rotation to start the 2024-25 season, serving as the backup center behind Anthony Davis. Hayes has made the most of his limited minutes, most notably stepping in during a recent win over the Toronto Raptors after Davis suffered an eye injury, where Hayes delivered a solid performance.
However, Hayes recently suffered an ankle injury during practice and is expected to be re-evaluated in a week or two. This latest injury is another blow for a Lakers team that has dealt with frequent injuries in recent seasons. Hayes showed up to Crypto.com Arena wearing a walking boot ahead of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but remained optimistic about his recovery, as reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick described the injury as a “freak” occurrence, explaining that Hayes was practicing against coaches when he made an awkward fall that caused his ankle to roll without any contact. “I’m disappointed for Jaxson, especially after the last two games he played for us,” Redick said. He added that Christian Koloko will absorb Hayes’ backup center minutes in the meantime, and the team is confident in Koloko’s ability to step up. Depending on matchups, the Lakers may also use small-ball lineups.
The silver lining is that the injury doesn’t appear to be severe, and Hayes could return sooner than expected if there are no further complications. In the interim, Redick may also lean on players like Rui Hachimura and LeBron James to fill in at center, especially as Koloko continues to ramp up after being cleared to play.
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