The NBA is reopening an investigation into Jaxson Hayes after a video surfaced of him with an ex-girlfriend in 2021.

Warning: This post contains descriptions of domestic violence.

The NBA is reopening its investigation into Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers following the release of a video of him with his ex-girlfriend from 2021.

“Due to the press release and the video posted this morning, we are reopening our investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN in a statement.

TMZ posted the video, which lasts five and a half minutes, early Sunday morning. It contains surveillance footage showing Hayes and then-girlfriend Sofia Jamora arguing, in which Hayes can be seen pushing and spitting on her. At one point he is seen entering Jamora's room, after which a loud crash is heard and Jamora is heard crying and asking him to stop.

Jaxson Hayes' arrest in July 2021

The video is from July 2021, when Hayes was with the New Orleans Pelicans, although the incident took place in Los Angeles. The police were called and Hayes was arrested. He was originally charged with 12 charges. Those charges include three counts of assaulting a spouse, two counts of domestic battery, one count of battery on a police officer, one count of false imprisonment, three counts of vandalism, harassment and one count of resisting arrest.

Hayes pleaded no contest to charges of false imprisonment and resisting an officer on Feb. 24, 2022. Another 10 cases were dismissed. He was sentenced to three years in prison, 450 hours of community service and a year of weekly domestic violence classes.

The NBA initially opened an investigation into Hayes after his arrest in July 2021, but did not take disciplinary action.

Why is this happening after three years?

The NBA is reopening its investigation due to the release of the video, but why was the video released now, more than three years after the incident?

According to ESPN, this video is part of a new lawsuit filed by Jamora's lawyers, where they accuse Hayes of compensating one of the police officers involved in his arrest for unknown reasons.

“There has already been an extensive investigation that we are cooperating with the department, and as that investigation is being reopened, we will continue to do so,” Hayes' spokesperson told ESPN on Saturday.

A Lakers spokesperson told ESPN that the team is working with the NBA. A spokesperson for Jamora told ESPN that as a victim of domestic violence, she “welcomes” the investigation into Hayes' actions and will cooperate fully.