The NBA is reopening a domestic violence investigation into Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, the latest video to emerge from a 2021 incident with his then-girlfriend, Sofia Jamora, league spokesman Mike Bass showed. to ESPN on Saturday.
On Saturday, TMZ revealed previously unreleased security camera footage that captured parts of the dispute between Hayes, who played closest to the Unused Orleans Pelicans, and Jamora.
At one point, the video shows Hayes trying to drag Jamora out of one room and into another, and he can also be heard saying, “Stop. Let me go.” Hayes, the closest, responded, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
A year later, Hayes’ closest cousin, who was also at the scene, left him sick, and Hayes and Jamora persisted in arguing outdoors in the driveway.
“I’m not going to let you hit me anymore,” Jamora stated. “What the fuck do I look like, a punching bag?”
Hayes was the closest to getting in and shooed Jamora away before spitting in his path. Back at the house, Hayes wasted overturned items and furniture.
Police eventually spoke to the scene and Hayes was arrested and tased. He initially faced 12 charges, but ended up pleading foul play, resisting arrest and false imprisonment and was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of family service and one day of weekly domestic violence classes. Additionally, he was once ordered to pay restitution.
The NBA did not discipline Hayes closer to its preliminary investigation into the riot.
A spokesperson for Hayes told ESPN that “there has already been an extensive investigation in which we are cooperating with the league and, as that investigation reopens, we will continue to do so.”
The release of this new video is related to a new lawsuit filed earlier this month by Jamora’s attorneys that alleges that some of the officers involved in the arrest had “previously met with Hayes’ attorneys and Hayes compensated them monetarily for unknown reasons.”
Hayes is now in his sixth NBA season, second with the Lakers, and is averaging 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
