Lakers News: Jaxson Hayes Has Shown Incredible Analytic Production Jump This Season

The Lakers have gotten some pleasantly good play from their starting center.

Mar 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) dunks for the basket against the New York Knicks during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA. They have now won eight games in a row and 14 of their last 16 games.

That kind of run was not expected from this team, even after acquiring Luka Doncic. Doncic coming to Los Angeles means that Anthony Davis had to go to Dallas.

Davis being in Dallas meant that the Lakers needed a new starting center. They traded for Mark Williams and then decided to fail his physical, canceling the trade.

Since that failed trade, Jaxson Hayes has been the starting center for the Lakers. They have no other options, so he will be the guy for the rest of the year.

Read more: Lakers News: NBA Insider Believes Mavericks Should Trade Anthony Davis

Hayes has been surprisingly been really good for the Lakers since being the starting center. A lot of people thought that the Lakers' defense would crater without Davis.

Not only has it not cratered, but it has actually gotten a bit better. The Lakers have the second-best defensive rating in the league over the last 15 games.

Hayes has been the catalyst for that improved defense, and his improvement from last year is impossible to ignore.

Jaxson Hayes hasn't just been improved this season -- he's been GOOD as a Rotation Big.

Hayes was a top-10 'Riser' in our LEBRON metric long before Luka joined the Lakers pic.twitter.com/klViVK7fpZ

— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) March 6, 2025

The Lakers are likely still going to look for a center in the offseason to overtake Hayes in the starting lineup next season. Hayes has been unbelievable, but his play might not be sustainable.

Hayes is someone who took the opportunity given to him and ran with it. He was able to keep himself very valuable to this team.

More Lakers news: Fans React to Lakers' LeBron James, Stephen A Smith Viral Courtside Confrontation

Los Angeles may have stumbled into a reliable player. Hayes was Davis' backup for most of the season, but he wasn't playing this well when he was the backup.

The Lakers are now second in the Western Conference standings. They are trying to fight with the Denver Nuggets for that spot.

Hayes continues to play at a high level, even though he wasn't expected to. He is going to be someone that they truly count on in the playoffs.

So far this season, Hayes is averaging 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

More Los Angeles Lakers news: Luka Doncic Has Already Placed Himself In Lakers History

Kevin Love Calls Out Stephen A Smith Over Confrontation With Lakers' LeBron James

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.