Slovenia names Alen Omi over Jaxson Hayes for World Cup qualifiers

Slovenia’s Alen Omić has reaffirmed his place as the national team’s naturalised centre for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers, brushing aside the arrival of NBA star Jaxson Hayes as a positive challenge rather than a threat. Speaking to RTV Slovenija on Sunday, 21 June 2026, Omić welcomed Hayes’s recent acquisition of Slovenian citizenship, telling reporters: “Dobrodošel v Sloveniji. Lepo je dobiti konkurenco iz NBA-ja.” The Los Angeles Lakers centre received his passport days earlier, but Omić stressed that the coaching staff had already selected him to start in the qualifying matches ahead.

Hayes, a 2.13-metre centre drafted seventh overall by the Lakers in 2023, completed the paperwork for Slovenian citizenship on 18 June 2026, according to RTV Slovenija’s report. The naturalisation process was fast-tracked under a special provision for athletes contributing to national teams, a route previously used by players such as Goran Dragić. Omić, 33, has been Slovenia’s starting five since 2017 and averaged 8.2 points and 5.7 rebounds during EuroBasket 2025, where the team finished sixth.

The Slovenian Basketball Federation confirmed on 20 June 2026 that only one naturalised player spot remains available for the World Cup qualifiers, which begin on 23 June 2026 in Ljubljana against Georgia. Omić’s experience and chemistry with guards Luka Dončić and Klemen Prepelič tipped the balance in his favour, federation sources told RTV Slovenija. Hayes, who has logged 1,240 NBA minutes this season, will be eligible to play for Slovenia only after completing three years of residency—a requirement waived for Omić under FIBA’s grandfather clause.

The decision comes amid broader debates about national identity in sport. Separate reporting on Sunday highlighted how pride in national affiliation remains a contested topic in Europe, with surveys showing rising discomfort among some English fans about displaying national symbols . In contrast, Slovenia’s basketball federation framed the Omić-Hayes situation as a strength rather than a dilemma. “We see this as an opportunity to raise the level of competition and push everyone to improve,” a federation spokesperson said.

Omić, who plays for Turkish club Beşiktaş, will captain the side in the two upcoming qualifiers, with Hayes expected to join the squad only after his NBA season ends in June 2027. The federation has scheduled a press conference for Monday to outline final roster decisions.