All-Star Weekend is approaching and Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes will be participating in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Hayes is the seventh Laker to participate in this event with Kobe Bryant being the lone champion in 1997.
In recent years, the Dunk Contest has garnered a bad reputation due to the lack of name value and not getting the league’s top dunkers to participate. That is again the case this year as the other three participants alongside Hayes are San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant, Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson and Orlando Magic rookie Jase Richardson.
While they are not big names, perhaps there is a chance that these four can exceed expectations. Personally for Hayes, he is looking forward to the Dunk Contest, an opportunity he dreamed of growing up.
“It would be really special if it was in Cleveland or Indiana, that’s close to my family,” the Lakers center admitted. “But for me, I’ve always dreamed on being in the Dunk Contest, it’s just something you do as a kid. Obviously making it to the NBA and being an All-Star, stuff like that (is what you dream of), but for me, I was always big into the Dunk Contest, if you guys can’t tell by the way I play. So yeah, just excited. When I got that call, I was definitely down.”
For a host city to get representation is special, even though it is technically at the L.A. Clippers’ home arena, Intuit Dome. Regardless, Lakers fans will be in attendance and that support should play in Hayes’ favor.
As an athletic big, he is able to do impressive dunks, as displayed recently against the Chicago Bulls. In what is known as an Eastbay dunk, Hayes went through the legs mid-flight, which prompted reactions from social media.
That is a sample of what he can pull off and it will be interesting to see what else is up his sleeve. Ending a near 30-year drought of a Laker winning the Dunk Contest would be an impressive feat, regardless of the perception of All-Star Weekend nowadays.
Jaxson Hayes apologizes to Wizards mascot & explains what happened
Hayes was recently suspended for a game after having an interaction with the Washington Wizards mascot on Jan. 30. A video released showing Hayes forcibly shoving “G Wiz” as the mascot ran past the Lakers center.
When speaking about the incident, the 25-year-old apologized to the Wizards mascot and detailed what actually happened.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
