The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. With a record of 39-21, good for third in the Western Conference, they are heating up at the right time with the playoffs in sight.
While LeBron James and Luka Dončić are grabbing headlines, role players like Austin Reaves and Jaxson Hayes are the backbone of the team’s success.
Hayes has taken on a significant role for the Lakers since the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Dončić. Here is a breakdown of how much he makes and how much he has made throughout his NBA career.
How Much Money Has Jaxson Hayes Earned in the NBA?
The New Orleans Pelicans selected Hayes with the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Hayes signed a two-year, $9.9 million rookie contract with the team.
According to Sportrac, Hayes made $22,119,492 during his four seasons with the Pelicans. He averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds on 62% field-goal shooting.
He experienced his best season as a pro, averaging 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds on 61% field-goal shooting during his third season. However, the Pelicans didn’t see much success during his time in the Big Easy, and they only made the postseason twice.
After four seasons with the Pelicans, Hayes signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers during the offseason. He managed each year of the contract.
He’s making a little over two million a year, though he earned $500,000 for the Lakers winning the NBA Cup in 2023.
His first season with the Lakers was rather disappointing as he saw a production dip, averaging 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists across 70 games, with only five starts.
Throughout his five seasons in the NBA, he has made a total of $27,247,438 in NBA,
Los Angeles Lakers Eye Another Championship
After pulling off the trade to acquire Dončić, the Lakers are hoping role players like Hayes find success in the Playoffs and help the team bring home another championship.
They are riding high on an eight-game winning streak including wins over some top teams throughout the league like the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.
Hayes is thriving in his new role, playing some of the best basketball of his career. He has emerged as a crucial lob threat and inside presence — Exactly what the Lakers need if they hope to make a deep postseason run at season’s end.
