Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Ugly mascot incident shows NBA was too soft on Lakers center Jaxson Hayes

By Sean Keane | Last updated Feb 6, 2026 12:46 AM ET

Wednesday, Jaxson Hayes got suspended one game for assaulting an NBA mascot. That's one more than he got for assaulting his former girlfriend.

In 2022, the Los Angeles Lakers center pleaded no contest to charges of false imprisonment and resisting an officer after a 2021 after his then-girlfriend called the police with a domestic violence complaint. The NBA investigated initially, then investigated again when TMZ published security camera footage of Hayes pushing and spitting at his girlfriend, then flipping over furniture. They did not punish Hayes.

The NBA takes mascot violence more seriously than domestic violence

In contrast with the extended investigation into Hayes' criminal case and partner violence, the NBA acted quickly when it suspended Hayes Wednesday, five days after he shoved a mascot.

Washington Wizards mascot "G-Wiz" was running past the Lakers bench during pregame introductions carrying a gigantic Wizards flag when Hayes inexplicably delivered a hard shove to the fuzzy blue creature. The assault sent G-Wiz into the Wizards dance team, crashing into one of the dancers.

Jaxson Hayes shoved Wizards mascot, G-Wiz, in pre-game introductions

Hayes has been suspended for one game, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/x4xz2Ndw2I
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 4, 2026

Perhaps Hayes thought he was being funny, but it appeared that the 7-footer simply blindsided a guy in a costume for no reason. Yes, the video evidence is sufficient for the NBA to suspend Hayes without pay for one game, but video evidence of Hayes being abusive to a woman wasn't enough?

The NBA still has a domestic violence problem

Based on the NBA's own policy, Hayes' plea of no contest constituted a suspension-worthy violation. In court, for which he received a year of probation, 450 hours of community service and required to complete online classes about domestic violence.

But the NBA chose not to act, which leaves its commitment to addressing domestic violence unclear. Early in the 2023-24 season, Charles Barkley confronted commissioner Adam Silver about the issue on a TNT telecast, after which Silver claimed the "consequences" for domestic violence were "enormous."

That may be his belief, but Miles Bridges and Kevin Porter Jr. are both playing after horrific domestic violence incidents. It's a sensitive issue, and such discipline has to be collectively bargained by the league and union.

Still, it's a bad look for the NBA that its discipline for crimes against women seems weaker than their discipline for crimes against mascots.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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