It doesn’t feel like it, but Jaxson Hayes is currently suffering from the dreaded “MCW-itis”, the condition where an NBA player peaks in their first career game. This disease is (as you could probably discern) named after Michael Carter-Williams, who famously devastated the Heatles in his NBA debut and then only went downhill. Another famous sufferer was Jake Layman, who eventually, after a long struggle, defeated the disease and watched his career take an upward trajectory.
In Hayes’ case, he scored 19 in his first game, a mark he has not reached since. These 18 points come close, but as any kindergartner will tell you, 19 is definitely more than 18.
I doubt he will continue being afflicted with MCW-itis for very long. With how easily he dunks it, and how easy it is to foul him while he’s trying to dunk it, it’s just a matter of time before he dunks himself over the magic 20 point threshold and removes the disease from his body. Zion Williamson’s return may hamper those efforts, though, so he’d better get a move on.
He would’ve already done it, but he missed a ton of free-throws tonight. Even just one or two would’ve put him over the top. FUNDAMENTALS.