Wizards Mascot Hires High-Powered Attorney After Jaxson Hayes Shoving Incident

The mascot is seeking a settlement with the Lakers player after the on-court altercation.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Wizards mascot, known as 'G-Wiz,' has hired a high-powered attorney, Waukeen McCoy, after being shoved by Lakers player Jaxson Hayes before a game last month. McCoy confirmed they are in settlement talks with Hayes, who said he acted out because the mascot had stepped on him during pregame warmups. If the settlement talks break down, formal litigation could ensue.

Why it matters

The incident between the Wizards mascot and Lakers player Jaxson Hayes has raised questions about player-mascot interactions and the boundaries of acceptable behavior at sporting events. The hiring of a high-powered attorney signals the mascot's intent to seek accountability and potentially compensation for the incident.

The details

On January 30th, before a game between the Wizards and Lakers, Jaxson Hayes shoved the Wizards mascot 'G-Wiz' as the mascot was running around the court waving a flag. Hayes said he acted out because the mascot had stepped on him during his pregame warmups. Hayes was suspended one game for the incident, but has since apologized. The mascot's attorney, Waukeen McCoy, has confirmed they are in settlement talks with Hayes, though formal litigation could follow if the talks break down.

  • The incident occurred on January 30, 2026 before a Wizards vs. Lakers game.
  • Hayes was suspended one game for the shoving incident.

The players

Jaxson Hayes

A center for the Los Angeles Lakers who shoved the Wizards mascot before a game on January 30th, 2026.

Waukeen McCoy

A high-powered San Francisco-based attorney who is now representing the Wizards mascot, known as 'G-Wiz.'

G-Wiz

The official mascot of the Washington Wizards basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Should've handled it a different way. And, you know, we live and we learn. So, just going to keep doing that now.”

— Jaxson Hayes (The California Post)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the settlement talks between the Wizards mascot's attorney and Jaxson Hayes to continue or if the case will proceed to formal litigation.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for clearer guidelines and protocols around player-mascot interactions at sporting events to ensure the safety of mascots and prevent similar altercations in the future.