My goodness, a lot has happened off the court in the NBA recently. Every time I started to write something, a new story popped up. So let’s just talk and discuss it all in one sitting. Deal?
3 Off-Court Storylines in the NBA
Jaxson Hayes
A very serious and very unfortunate situation has re-developed with Jaxson Hayes and his involvement in a domestic disturbance case from 2021.
TMZ posted a security camera video of the incident from 2021 and this posting has led the NBA to reopen its investigation into Hayes. In the video, you can see a verbal altercation between Hayes and his then-girlfriend, Sofia Jamora, outside their house and into the driveway. Jamora can be heard saying “I’m not going to let you hit me anymore” and “What the **** do I look like, a punching bag?”. After this, Hayes can be seen spitting in her direction.
The security camera footage is timestamped July 28th, 2021 at 1:35 a.m.
When the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene, there was an altercation between the police officers and Hayes. Hayes was asked to leave the residence so the officers could interview Ms. Jamora, but Hayes refused. He claimed she was his girlfriend and she had been “throwing stuff“. This eventually escalated to Hayes throwing an officer against the wall and injuring the officer’s elbow and Hayes being hit with an electronic stun gun twice.
Hayes was eventually arrested by the LAPD and on June 2022 he was sentenced to three years of probation, 450 hours of community service, and a year of weekly domestic violence classes.
Hayes, his representatives, and the Los Angeles Lakers have all claimed to be cooperating with the investigation. Lakers’ Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka said they feel like Hayes has owned up to the past issue and takes full responsibility for it and responsibility for becoming a better person.
A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday from Jamora’s representatives claiming that the officer that was injured “previously met with Hayes’s attorney and was compensated monetarily by Hayes for unknown reasons“.
Hayes signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract in the summer of 2023 and has averaged 5 points per game and 4.2 rebounds will averaging 15.7 minutes.
This is a very unfortunate and serious situation and I hope it is resolved and put behind everyone soon.
Credit to Dave McMenamin of ESPN
Gregg Popovich
The San Antonio Spurs’ long-time head coach Gregg Popovich missed their games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers due to “health issues“. He is also expected to miss their Wednesday game against the Houston Rockets with Mitch Johnson stepping in as head coach.
This is obviously very concerning due to Popovich’s age, 75, and we wish him the quickest of recoveries.
Popovich is a prominent voice in the league for advancement and equality. He is in his 29th year and, at 1,388, has the most regular season wins of all time with five NBA championships to add on to that. It can be argued that, despite his contributions on the court, he has been even more impactful off the court.
Credit to APNews
Joel Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers’ start to the season has been filled with off-the-court drama and even more has been added on.
A recent altercation between Joel Embiid and local columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Marcus Hayes, is being investigated by the NBA. Per ESPN, after a 124-107 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid walked toward Hayes in the locker room and an argument over a recent article, where Hayes referenced Embiid’s son and late brother, broke out where Embiid reportedly “pushed Hayes on the shoulder while the team’s public relations chief got between them.” PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson claimed that “there was no punch made or attempted by Embiid.”
Here is a passage in the article that Embiid took issue with, an article that has since been removed, per Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.
“Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career…He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er. Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.”
This is following another example of Embiid’s frustration with how the media is treating him in Philly after an interview where he vented his frustration, directed at Hayes, about how he has given too much to this city to be treated like this.
The most recent injury issue for Embiid, besides his absence from the start of the season, was his meniscus injury last year. He was able to come back late in the season and play in the playoffs where the 76ers were eliminated by the New York Knicks and then helped team USA win gold at the Olympics.
This situation is incredibly unfortunate and is just another distraction for the 76ers to start their season. While I agree that Embiid is open to criticism for his inability to stay healthy and be healthy come playoff time, I think it was a step too far bringing up Embiid’s son and late brother who he claims is his main motivation for him right now.
Credit to Joseph Zucker on BleacherReport and Adam Aaronson on PhillyVoice
UPDATE as of 11/5 at 3:40: Per Shams Charania, Joel Embiid has been suspended three games for shoving Marcus Hayes, the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist.
Main Image: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
