The Los Angeles Lakers' frontcourt depth took a hit as the NBA announced a one-game suspension for center Jaxson Hayes.
The Oklahoma native will sit out Thursday night's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers without pay after shoving Washington Wizards mascot G-Wiz during pregame introductions last week.
Video captured Hayes pushing G-Wiz during player introductions on Friday at the Washington Wizards' home arena before the Lakers put on a 142-111 blockbuster show against the home team.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
To be frank, the soft shove felt playful to many but crossed the line into unprofessional conduct, according to the NBA. James Jones, the league's executive vice president and head of basketball operations, announced the suspension Wednesday in an official statement.
"Los Angeles Lakers center-forward Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game without pay for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pre-game introductions, it was announced today by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations," the league's statement read.
This one-game ban ensures Hayes sits out the 76ers matchup while forfeiting his game check, roughly $42,000 to $42,100 from his annual $3.5M salary. In his seventh NBA season, Hayes, 25, is averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 77.5% from the field.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Hayes accepted an invitation to compete in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 14 during All-Star Weekend.
The Lakers sit at 30-19 and hold the fifth spot in the Western Conference. They'll need to navigate their roster Thursday night without the backup center against the 76ers squad led by Joel Embiid. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.