JJ Redick has spent the last month publicly praising Jaxson Hayes as one of the Lakers’ quiet success stories. On Thursday night, the head coach suddenly found himself addressing something very different. Ahead of Los Angeles’ matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, Redick was forced to respond to a strange off-court situation involving his backup center, one that will keep Hayes out of the lineup entirely.

The Lakers will be without Hayes tonight after the league handed him a one-game suspension for an incident during last week’s game against the Washington Wizards. The punishment stemmed from an unexpected moment when Hayes shoved the Wizards’ mascot, “G-Wiz,” on the sideline, an act that quickly went viral and drew widespread backlash online.

With the Lakers fighting for positioning in a crowded Western Conference, losing a rotation piece for something so avoidable only added to the frustration. Redick, speaking to reporters before tipoff, made it clear that Hayes understands the mistake he made. “He made an error in judgment and he owned up to it and apologized,” the Lakers coach said.

While the episode created an unnecessary distraction, Redick’s comments suggest the organization is ready to move forward. Hayes has been an important contributor off the bench this season, and the hope inside the locker room is that this odd moment becomes nothing more than a brief footnote in an otherwise positive stretch of play.

The team clearly doesn’t condone his actions, but is satisfied with the league’s punishment and his response. Yet JJ Redick will have to rely on Drew Timme or Maxi Kleber more for moments when Deandre Ayton won’t be on the floor.

LakeShow expected Jaxson Hayes to be smarter

Last Friday, the Lakers were in Washington during their 8-game road trip. Before tip-off, Jaxson Hayes got a little feisty, and G-Wiz unfortunately was in the vicinity. During the pre-game festivities, Hayes shoved the mascot during his usual choreography, and it was captured on camera.

Frankly, anyone could tell it was playful. But it was a full-bodied shove. Although the cameras cut before it, spectators claimed that G-Wiz tumbled to the floor in the heavy costume.

What made the incident more serious than it appeared was the league’s stance on such behavior. It’s a known fact, especially to the players, that these actions, even to the slightest degree, are not tolerable to the league.

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Historically, mascots have been unfairly subjected to aggression from fans and athletes alike, and most sports leagues have zero tolerance for it. Fans believe that Hayes should’ve known better than to get carried away.

Despite the pre-game controversy, the Lakers remained focused once the game began. The Lakers proceeded to put on a 142-111 thriller over the Wizards.

Ironically, the night belonged to Hayes on the court as well. It was one of Hayes’ improved games that Redick’s been talking about for most of January. He added 10 points in 14 minutes on a 4-of-5 shooting from the field and added three rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Hayes’ strong performance underscored exactly why the team can’t afford to lose him. His shot-blocking and rebounding are why Redick is relying on Hayes to take the load off Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Obviously, he doesn’t want to lose a single player if it’s avoidable.

Hayes, the league office, and the Lakers bided their time as the team continued a very emotional road trip. While it was mostly about celebrating LeBron James’ possibly final games in the East, they were waiting for the sentence.

Hayes played in two more games before the league concluded its investigation into the matter. The league levied a one-game unpaid suspension, which Hayes and the team complied with.

It’s another incident where off-court drama has bled into Jaxson Hayes’ career. While he reflects on it, the Lakers are now navigating a crowded Western Conference playoff race.