2025-26 Season
JAXSON HAYES
2025-26 Season
JAXSON HAYES
Hayes produces at an above average rate for a 18-minute workload.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 14 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 92 Centers with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Jaxson Hayes spent his first twenty games of the 2025-26 season riding a volatile rollercoaster defined entirely by his fluctuating engagement level. When he actively weaponized his vertical athleticism, he transformed into a highly disruptive interior presence. Just look at 11/15 vs MIL, where high-energy rim running fueled a massive +8.4 impact score in just 17 minutes. He didn't even need to score heavily to tilt the floor in his team's favor, as seen during a quiet four-point outing 12/04 vs TOR where elite rim protection anchored a +3.2 impact. Yet, when the hustle faded, hidden costs quickly erased his offensive efficiency. His stint 11/23 vs UTA perfectly captured this frustrating duality; he shot a flawless 2-for-2 from the floor, but the hidden costs of poor defensive positioning saddled him with a -0.4 impact score. Ultimately, Hayes remains a deeply polarizing big man whose worth is dictated entirely by spatial awareness and effort rather than raw box score numbers.
This stretch was defined by hyper-efficient rim-running and vertical spacing that made Jaxson Hayes a deadly, albeit low-volume, weapon. He exploited the dunker spot with ruthless precision on 12/30 vs DET, converting every lob to generate a massive +9.1 impact score in just 18 minutes. However, his value cratered whenever his defensive awareness lapsed. Look no further than 01/09 vs MIL, where disastrous pick-and-roll coverage completely tanked his floor value and dragged him to a brutal -7.6 impact score. Yet, even on nights where he barely looked at the basket, his sheer athleticism warped opposing defenses. During a spot start on 02/07 vs GSW, Hayes managed just 6 points but still posted a +5.5 impact score because his elite rim protection and constant vertical spacing anchored a highly productive shift. When he pairs flawless shot selection with disciplined defensive effort, he transforms into an entirely different caliber of role player.
Jaxson Hayes spent this twenty-game stretch oscillating between an unstoppable lob threat and a complete offensive ghost. When given extended run, his vertical spacing and weak-side roaming wrecked opposing game plans, peaking on 02/12 vs DAL with a massive +21.3 impact score. He racked up 16 points and 7 rebounds in that start, completely sealing off the paint to generate a +5.5 defensive rating. Even when his shot volume dropped, he found ways to tilt the floor. On 03/27 vs BKN, he took just three shots to score 10 points, yet he still posted a +19.0 impact by leaning on aggressive rim protection and relentless hustle. However, his reliance on guard play for offensive involvement occasionally backfired. During a dismal outing on 03/14 vs DEN, his touches evaporated entirely, leading to a -7.7 impact score as he failed to provide his usual vertical gravity and bled points on the defensive end.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Typical consistency. Hayes is positive more often than not (71% of games) with scoring varying ~5 points from the average.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 89% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive difference-maker. Hayes consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Slight upward trend. First-half impact: +2.0, second-half: +4.9. Modest improvement — possibly settling into a rhythm.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 14 games. Longest cold streak: 3 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 69 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
65 games played