Jaxson Hayes is an American professional basketball player in the NBA.
He was born on May 23, 2000, in Norman, Oklahoma, and played college basketball at the University of Texas before entering the NBA Draft.
In 2019, Hayes was selected 8th overall in the draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but his rights were immediately traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he began his NBA career.
BREAKING: Jaxson Hayes has been BANNED from the dunk contest effective immediately.
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) February 15, 2026
(Via @LakersLead) pic.twitter.com/F4Bo0HwY95
In February 2026, Jaxson Hayes was listed as a participant in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend, representing the Lakers in the event.
Fans and media were surprised by his inclusion, as other contestants were less established dunkers, and Hayes was seen as the most recognizable name in the group.
During the contest, Hayes’ first dunk received very low scores from the judges, and though he improved on a second attempt, it wasn’t enough for him to advance to the final round.
His performance drew widespread criticism online, with many fans calling his dunks underwhelming.
There are social-media posts claiming that Hayes was “banned” from the dunk contest because he was unprepared or for other unspecified reasons.
Previously, Hayes was suspended for one regular-season game on February 4, 2026, for pushing the Washington Wizards’ mascot, G-Wiz, during a pre-game event on January 30, 2026.
The league described the interaction as excessive physical contact. He missed a game without pay as a result.
That suspension was only for that one NBA game — it was not a punishment specifically tied to All-Star Weekend or the Slam Dunk Contest.
However, there has been no official league announcement saying he was barred or banned from participating in the dunk contest itself due to the incident.
Some sources claimed that Hayes was banned from the dunk contest because he was unprepared, rather than due to his prior mascot incident.
Leave a Comment