Jaxson Hayes is running it back with the Lakers after putting on weight this summer during the offseason.
Every NBA offseason presents an opportunity for reflection, improvement and change.
For players, the reflection comes with some downtime to think about how the season went. The improvement happens during the summer when work requirements don’t exist. The changes can either be moving during free agency, getting traded or remaining with your previous team.
Jaxson Hayes experienced all of this during this offseason.
While reflecting on a year that saw a lot of regular season success before postseason shortcomings, he decided a way to improve was to change his body as he put on 20 pounds this summer.
“It was really important to me just because I’ve always been a little lighter,” Hayes said during media day. “Wanted to gain good, healthy weight. Me and our strength coach Randy [Flores] and my chef and our nutritionist, Ms. Becci [Twombley] all just worked together this summer and getting me eating the right stuff and eating a certain amount of calories and just doing lifts that will help me kind of gain the right weight and just make sure my body still feels good while gaining this weight.”
It’s hard to imagine Hayes could get in even better shape, but it appears that he has. Hayes is already known as an athletic player with an incredible vertical burst. Now that he has added 20 pounds and ensured it’s the right kind of weight, he can make himself an even harder player to push around and physically bully in the paint.
With Hayes getting benched last season during the playoffs, many people were surprised that he returned to the Lakers. He re-signed with the Lakers, taking a bit more money than the minimum, but waiving his no-trade clause.
During media day, he elaborated on his decision to return.
“Just really the whole situation,” Hayes said. “I love this team. I wanted to get a full go at it this year with the whole group that we have right now. JJ and [Rob Pelinka] were really talking to me about coming back, so I was just really excited about that.”
With Deandre Ayton as the starter and Hayes back as a backup, it allows Hayes a chance to excel in his previous role.
If Hayes keeps this positive attitude along with his improved conditioning and an ideal position for his talent, things could break right for him as a Laker and this could be the best year of his career.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
Category: General Sports
