The new video prompted the NBA to reopen its investigation into the Lakers’ Hayes

The NBA is reopening its investigation into a 2021 incident involving the Los Angeles Lakers center Jackson Hayes after TMZ released video of an altercation between him and his then-girlfriend on Saturday.

“In light of the media report and video released this morning, we are reopening our investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Buss told ESPN.

TMZ released 5.5 minutes of security camera footage from the 2021 incident, which shows Hayes, then a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, arguing with Sofia Jamora, his then-girlfriend. In the video, Hayes is seen pulling Jamora out of the door and she can be heard saying, “Stop. Let me go.” Hayes can be heard replying, “What about you…?”

Video from Ring.com is timestamped July 28, 2021 at 1:35 am

Hayes and Jamora are then shown leaving the residence and continuing their argument in the driveway. “I won’t let you beat me anymore,” Jamora can be heard in the video. “How do I look like a punching bag?”

Shortly after that comment, the video shows Hayes walking away from Jamora before turning his head back to spit in her direction.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene in Woodland Hills, California after a disturbance call, and Hayes was arrested. In June 2022, he was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service and a year of weekly domestic violence classes.

The NBA did not discipline Hayes after the initial investigation into the arrest.

“We’ve already conducted an extensive investigation in which we’ve cooperated with the league, and when that investigation resumes, we’ll continue to do so,” Hayes’ spokesman told ESPN on Saturday.

Hayes was also ordered to pay restitution, according to Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

A police body camera showed Hayes struggling with officers and being hit twice with an electronic taser after they ordered him out of the home while they tried to question the woman inside. Hayes told police that the woman was his girlfriend and that she was “throwing some things at him” while they were arguing.

Hayes was treated at the hospital after the altercation. The officer Hayes threw against the wall was treated for an elbow injury.

Although more than three years have passed since the incident, a new trial took place this week.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by Jamora’s attorneys and obtained by ESPN, alleges that Robert T. Tamate, the officer with whom Hayes had an altercation, “had previously met with Hayes’ attorneys and received monetary compensation from Hayes for unknown reasons.”

“We understand that the NBA has a zero-tolerance policy regarding domestic violence, and as such, the victim welcomes any further investigation into Hayes’ actions and will cooperate with that investigation,” Jamora’s representative told ESPN.

In the summer of 2023, Hayes signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Lakers.

“I think the most important thing is that we take these things very seriously and do a full vetting process,” Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters when asked about the Hayes signing at the time. “Jackson was very sincere (with) his apology for handling it and moved on, where he played a year or two in the NBA after that. It was something we felt he owned, took responsibility for, and would come out a better person on the other side of.”

A Lakers official contacted Saturday night told ESPN, “We are working with the league.”

Hayes, 24, is averaging 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game for the Lakers, who are off to a 4-2 start to the season.

ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.