No team had a more chaotic trade deadline than the Lakers—aside from the blockbuster Luka Dončić deal, of course. Once they pulled off that franchise-altering move, their next task was clear: find a replacement for Anthony Davis at center. In an aggressive swing, they sent their best-remaining assets to Charlotte for Mark Williams.
The reasoning? Williams had a similar skill set to Dereck Lively II, the rookie big man Dončić thrived with in Dallas. On paper, it made sense. In reality, not so much. The move didn’t pan out, and now, Jaxson Hayes has stepped into the role as Dončić’s go-to big man. The Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak in style, taking down the Suns 107-96 on Sunday.
When asked about his role in the pick-and-roll and how much faith he has in the 5x All-Star to find him, Hayes didn’t hesitate to shower praise on his teammate.
“Man, that’s the best point guard in the league. So I trust he’s gonna find me every time I get open, and my job is just to try to get him open as well,” Hayes said. “So, it’s like a relationship—you both got to contribute something.”
That connection was evident in the way the two worked together throughout the game. The Slovenian consistently found Hayes for easy buckets, but the Lakers big man also showed his own playmaking ability. One particular moment stood out—when Dončić was blitzed, Hayes made the right read and kicked the ball to Dorian Finney-Smith in the corner.
Feb 22, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is congratulated by center Jaxson Hayes (11) after making a basket during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
It wasn’t just a one-game spark, either. Hayes has been thriving in his new role since Dončić arrived. In their first game together, the 7-footer made an immediate impact, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field with five of those buckets coming off assists from Dončić or LeBron James. Afterward, Hayes couldn’t contain his excitement about how natural it felt playing alongside two elite playmakers.
“It was extremely fun tonight. … I feel like the way we’ve been playing, or the whole team’s been playing, that either ball just been moving, and I feel like that’s just joyful basketball. Everyone’s getting to touch, everyone’s getting shots,” Hayes had said after. That movement has been a game-changer for Hayes, whose athleticism and rim-running ability make him a perfect target for Dončić’s pinpoint passing.
He’s already seeing how much space he has to operate when the Slovenian star controls the tempo. “Sure. I mean, at least on his drives,” Hayes added. “If he keeps the guard on his back every time, so it’s like the big has to decide whether to step up and take him or stay with me. So, I mean, you can feel it like, feel it every time he drives the ball.”
With the 7-foot center fully embracing his role alongside Dončić, the bond between the two continues to strengthen. Luka, meanwhile, didn’t hesitate to share just how much he missed having Hayes on the court during his absence.
“Well, you can see it, uh, you can see the difference, you know,” Dončić said when asked about Hayes’ impact after the match. “For me, it helps me a lot, but he helps the whole team, you know, uh, just getting block shots, big rebounds pro. He can do a lot of things, and we miss him for sure.”
As their on-court relationship evolves, it’s clear they’re becoming a dangerous duo for the Lakers. But while Luka is building strong chemistry with Jaxson Hayes, his rivalry with the Suns remains as intense as ever.
Luka Doncic humbles the Phoenix Suns once again
Dončić has a history of rising to the occasion in the playoffs, and his battle against the top-seeded Suns in 2022 only solidified that reputation. He led the Mavericks to a shocking 4-3 series win, a loss that sent Phoenix into a downward spiral they haven’t recovered from since their 2021 Finals run. That series was intense, packed with heated exchanges, and Dončić hasn’t let go of the rivalry.
Now rocking Purple and Gold, Luka Dončić still treats matchups against Phoenix with extra fire. In his first game against them this season, he powered L.A. to a 107-96 win while throwing plenty of verbal jabs—especially at Kevin Durant.
At one point, the 15x All-Star tried to remind him that things would be different when it mattered most: “You’re not getting that in the playoffs, you know that.” Luka Doncic, despite an 8-of-20 shooting night, still finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. But what stood out most? How much fun he was having!
Mar 10, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) brings the ball up court against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mic’d up for the game, Dončić joked with Austin Reaves about how open Phoenix was leaving him. “I’ve never been open so much in my life.”
For a player of his caliber, getting wide-open looks is rare. But against the Suns, he found them—and he made sure to enjoy every second of it. If this matchup becomes a playoff showdown, Doncic won’t need an invitation to make Phoenix relive their worst nightmare.
And we are here for every bit of it!
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