The NBA has decided to reopen an investigation into Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes after TMZ posted a video Saturday of a 2021 incident.
The over five minute video shows an altercation between the NBA player and his then-girlfriend. Hayes, who was a member of the New Orleans Pelicans at the time, is seen arguing with Sofia Jamora in the security camera footage.
In the video, Hayes appears to pull Zamora out of a doorway while she can be heard saying, “Stop. Let go of me.”
Hayes is heard responding with: “What the f*** is wrong with you?”
“As a result of the media report and video posted this morning, we are reopening our investigation,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass told ESPN. Footage from a Ring camera shows the incident taking place on July 28, 2021 at 1:35 a.m.
The two are then seen leaving the residence, before continuing their argument on the driveway.
“I’m not going to let you hit me anymore,” Jamora says. “What the f*** do I look like, a punching bag?”
Following Jamora’s comments, Hayes is seen walking away before turning his head and spitting in her direction.
Hayes wasn’t disciplined by the NBA for the incident
Hayes was arrested at the time by the Los Angeles Police Department after a domestic disturbance call. He was later sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service and a year of weekly domestic violence classes.
Hayes was also ordered to pay restitution at the time.
Following its initial investigation into the arrest, the NBA chose not to discipline Hayes.
“There has already been an extensive investigation that we cooperated with the league on, and as that investigation reopens, we will continue to do so,” a spokesperson for Hayes told ESPN on Saturday.
Hayes signed a two-year contract worth $4.6 million with the Lakers back in the summer of 2023.
“I think the most important thing is we take those things very seriously and do a full vetting process,” Rob Pelinka, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager, told reporters at the time.
“Jaxson has been very sincere [with] his apologies around handling that and has moved beyond it to where he’s had a year or two in the NBA playing after it. It was something that we felt like he owned, took responsibility for it and is going to be a better person on the other side of it.”
When contacted by ESPN on Saturday, a Lakers spokesperson stated: “We are cooperating with the league.”