New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jaxson Hayes issued an apology on Friday after making vulgar comments directed at the NBA for his exclusion on the Rising Stars roster.
The NBA unveiled on Friday the 10 first- and second-year players selected to participate in the Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend next month in Chicago and Hayes was among those not selected.
Pelicans teammates Zion Williamson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were among the rookies selected to participate in the event. While Williamson and Alexander-Walker made the team, veteran Jrue Holiday was upset Hayes didn’t make the cut.
After the rosters were unveiled, a video featuring Hayes surfaced on social media where he is heard making insensitive comments for not making the team.
Warning: The video contains inappropriate language
Pelicans rookie Jaxson Hayes says "NBA can really suck my d**k for all I care. And I hope y'all see this video by the way, fine me." for not making the Rising Stars team. pic.twitter.com/6WMipQqgDt
— The Render (@TheRenderNBA2) February 1, 2020
The comments made by Hayes went viral as the Pelicans played the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Immediately following the game, Hayes took to his Instagram account to issue an apology, vowing to learn from his mistake.