The NBA is set to reopen its investigation into a 2021 incident involving Los Angeles Lakers star Jaxson Hayes and his then-girlfriend Sofia Jamora after shocking new footage emerged this weekend.
Hayes, who was playing for the New Orleans Pelicans when the incident occurred, was arrested in July 2021 after police responded to a domestic violence call in Woodland Hills, California.
Nearly a year later, the 24-year-old was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service and a year of weekly domestic violence after pleading no contest to resisting arrest and false imprisonment.
Despite the legal ruling, the NBA chose not to discipline Hayes following its own investigation. But three years after the incident, that could now change as the league reopens its investigation.
Early Sunday morning, TMZ Sports shared five and a half minutes of security camera footage of the dispute between Hayes and Jamora.
LA Lakers star Jaxson Hayes spits on his then-girlfriend in shocking new footage
Hayes (left) was arrested in 2021 over a dispute between him and partner Sofia Jamora (right)
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 coming across 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.
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 in a disgusting moment.
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.’
In security camera footage of the incident, Jamora can be heard accusing Hayes of hitting her
The NBA will now reopen its investigation into the Lakers center three years later
Photos taken after the incident show Jamora’s legs and arms covered in bruises.
“Following the media report and video posted this morning, we are reopening our investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN.
A spokesperson for Hayes told the network that they are willing to work with the NBA again after doing so in the past.
Hayes was seen pushing an officer before being tasered and arrested following the 2021 incident, before telling officers the woman was his girlfriend and that she had “thrown some stuff” while they were arguing.
Attorneys representing Jamora filed a lawsuit against the NBA star on Tuesday, reportedly alleging that Robert T. Tamate, the officer with whom Hayes came into conflict, previously met with his attorneys and was compensated by him to ” unknown reasons’.
Hayes inked a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Lakers in 2023 after ending his five-year stint with the Pelicans.