The NBA reportedly never spoke to the woman responsible for the domestic violence allegations against Lakers star Jaxson Hayes.
The then-Pelicans center was arrested following allegations that he hit his ex-girlfriend, Sofia Jamora, in July 2021. Newly released footage appears to show him pushing and spitting at Jamora.
Hayes pleaded no contest to charges of false imprisonment and resisting an officer. TThe 24-year-old was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service and a year of weekly work domestic violence classes. But Hayes escaped the NBA’s punishment.
According to ESPNJamora’s lawyers recall receiving a call from the league’s legal department about the incident. They claim they called back and left a message but never heard back.
“They didn’t follow up with me,” Waukeen McCoy told ESPN. “If they had actually done a thorough investigation, they would have contacted her attorney and gotten information from us.”
LA Lakers star Jaxson Hayes was spotted spitting at his then-girlfriend in shocking new footage
Hayes (left) was arrested in 2021 over a dispute involving his ex-partner Sofia Jamora (right)
The NBA appears to dispute this version of events, telling ESPN that a league investigator “contacted Laura Stone, Ms. Jamora’s representative (and McCoy’s colleague), multiple times and we have received no response.” ‘
Earlier this month, the NBA reopened its investigation into the 2021 incident after the shocking new footage emerged.
Jamora’s lawyers told ESPN they would “certainly encourage” her to speak to the league next TMZ Sports shared five and a half minutes of security camera footage of the dispute.
But her lawyers insist they have not heard from the NBA since the league announced it was reopening the investigation.
In the clip, the Lakers center first appeared to pull his then-girlfriend out of a doorway around 1:35 a.m. as she said, “Stop! Let me go!’
After she ran into another room off-camera, Hayes followed her before shouting, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Jamora, who had initially blamed Hayes’ dogs for injuring her smaller pup before the fight broke out, can be heard telling her partner to “go away” before finally returning to the Ring around 1:47 a.m. camera appeared.
The basketball player’s cousin tried in vain to calm him down as he returned to Jamora’s room before a loud bang was heard. The latter then appeared to scream in pain as he asked him to stop again.
In security camera footage of the incident, Jamora can be heard accusing Hayes of hitting her
The NBA announced it is reopening its investigation into the Lakers center three years later
Just after 2 a.m., the couple were shown leaving the home and continuing their argument in the driveway, with Jamora saying, “I’m not going to let you hit me again.” What the hell do I look like, a punching bag?’
Not long after making that comment, Hayes appeared to push Jamora aside and walk away, before turning to spit in her direction.
The influencer was then heard telling his cousin to get him out of the property, before admitting: ‘I don’t know what else to do.’
Photos taken after the incident show Jamora’s legs and arms covered in bruises.
An attorney for Hayes told ESPN that they are willing to cooperate with the NBA and accused Jamora’s team of leaking the footage to TMZ – an accusation they deny.
Hayes was seen pushing an officer before being tasered and arrested following the incident. According to a statement from the agent, the NBA star later paid him $150,000 to cover his injuries.
Hayes inked a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Lakers in 2023 after ending his five-year stint with the Pelicans.