NBA Reopens Investigation of Lakers Player Over 2021 Domestic Incident: VIDEO
The NBA has reopened its investigation into the 2021 incident involving Lakers center Jaxson Hayes after TMZ released video showing a physical and verbal altercation between Hayes and his ex-girlfriend, Sofia Jamora.
“Following the press release and video posting this morning, we are reopening our investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass shared with ESPN.
TMZ published a 5-and-a-half-minute security video of the incident, time-stamped July 28, 2021, starting at 1:35 am.
Jaxson Hayes may be done.
The NBA is investigating this video of him and his gf. pic.twitter.com/iAJwrDZA2j
-BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) November 3, 2024
Hayes (then playing for the Pelicans) can be seen and heard opposing Jamora. He is seen leading Jamora out the door and can be heard in the video saying, “Stop. Stop me,”. Hayes replies, “What the f*** is wrong with you?”
The footage continues to show Hayes and Jamora leaving the home and arguing in the driveway. “I’m not going to let you hit me anymore,” Jamora said in the video. “What do I look like, punching bag?”
Right after saying that, Hayes is seen walking away and then turns around and spits in his direction.
Police arrived at the scene in Woodland Hills, California, following a call about a domestic disturbance, which led to Hayes’ arrest.
In June 2022, Hayes was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service, and a year of weekly domestic violence education.
The NBA did not punish Hayes following its initial investigation into the arrest.
“We have previously been fully cooperating with the NBA’s investigation and will continue to do so now that it has been reopened,” a representative for Hayes told ESPN on Saturday.
The Lakers center was also ordered to pay restitution, as confirmed by Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
Bodycam footage released by police showed Hayes in an altercation with officers, where he was allegedly questioned after officers asked him to leave the residence to question the woman inside.
Hayes told police that the woman was his girlfriend and “she kept throwing things at him” during the argument.
After the altercation, Hayes was treated at the hospital, and the officer identified as Hayes pushed him against a wall and was treated for an elbow injury.
Although it has been three years since the incident in 2021, a new case has emerged this week.
On Tuesday, Jamora’s attorneys filed a lawsuit obtained by ESPN, claiming that executive Robert T. Tamate (who had feuded with Hayes) had met with Hayes’ attorneys and received monetary compensation from Hayes, though details were not specified.
“In recognition of the NBA’s strong policy against domestic violence, the victim is willing to fully cooperate with any further investigation into Hayes’ conduct,” Jamora’s spokesperson told ESPN.
Hayes declined to comment to reporters Sunday after a Lakers practice in Toronto.
