The NBA is reopening an investigation right into a 2021 incident involving Los Angeles Lakers heart Jaxson Hayes after TMZ posted a video Saturday of the altercation between him and his then-girlfriend.
“On account of the media report and video posted this morning, we’re reopening our investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass informed ESPN in a press release.
TMZ posted 5½ minutes of safety digicam footage from an incident exhibiting Hayes — then a member of the New Orleans Pelicans — arguing with Sofia Jamora. The video reveals Hayes showing to tug Jamora out of a doorway whereas she might be heard saying, “Cease. Let go of me.” Hayes might be heard replying, “What the f— is unsuitable with you?”
Footage from a Ring digicam is time-stamped July 28, 2021, beginning at 1:35 a.m.
Hayes and Jamora then are proven leaving the residence and persevering with their argument within the driveway. “I am not going to allow you to hit me anymore,” Jamora might be heard saying within the video. “What the f— do I appear to be, a punching bag?”
Not lengthy after that remark, the video reveals Hayes strolling away from Jamora then turning his head again to spit in her route.
The Los Angeles Police Division responded to the scene in Woodland Hills, California, after a home disturbance name, and Hayes was arrested. In June 2022, he was sentenced to a few years of probation, 450 hours of group service and a yr of weekly home violence lessons.
The NBA didn’t self-discipline Hayes following its preliminary investigation into the arrest.
“There has already been an intensive investigation that we cooperated with the league on, and as that investigation reopens, we’ll proceed to take action,” a spokesperson for Hayes informed ESPN on Saturday.
Hayes was ordered to pay restitution on the time, in accordance with Los Angeles Metropolis Legal professional’s Workplace spokesman Rob Wilcox.
Police physique digicam video confirmed Hayes struggling with officers and being hit twice with an digital stun gun after they ordered him out of the house whereas they sought to query a lady inside. Hayes informed officers the lady was his girlfriend and that she had been “throwing some stuff” at him whereas they argued.
Hayes was handled at a hospital after the altercation. An officer thrown towards a wall by Hayes was handled for an elbow damage.
Though greater than three years have handed for the reason that incident, there was new litigation this week.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday by attorneys representing Jamora and obtained by ESPN alleges that Robert T. Tamate, the officer whom Hayes scuffled with, had “beforehand met with Hayes’s attorneys and was compensated monetarily by Hayes for unknown causes.”
“We perceive that the NBA has a no-tolerance coverage towards home violence, and subsequently the sufferer welcomes any additional investigation into Hayes’ actions and can cooperate with mentioned investigation,” a spokesperson for Jamora informed ESPN.
Hayes signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Lakers in the summertime of 2023.
“I believe crucial factor is we take these issues very severely and do a full vetting course of,” Rob Pelinka, Lakers vice chairman of basketball operations and normal supervisor, informed reporters on the time when requested about signing Hayes. “Jaxson has been very honest [with] his apologies round dealing with that and has moved past it to the place he is had a yr or two within the NBA taking part in after it. It was one thing that we felt like he owned, took duty for it and goes to be a greater individual on the opposite aspect of it.”
A Lakers spokesperson contacted Saturday night time informed ESPN, “We’re cooperating with the league.”
Hayes, 24, is averaging 5.0 factors and 4.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per sport for the Lakers of their 4-2 begin to the season.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and The Related Press contributed to this report.