Former NBA guard Ben McLemore was found guilty of rape.
Thursday an Oregon jury ruled McLemore guilty for the rape of a 21-year-woman that took place in 2021 while he was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The rape occurred at a party at the home of then teammate Robert Covington on October 3, 2021. According to prosecutors, the victim was “hammered unconscious drunk” and was having difficulty walking in addition to vomiting. The victim is said to have passed out on a living room couch at around 2 a.m.
McLemore allegedly was sleeping on the same count and at approximately 6 a.m. awakened by penetrating her with his digits and then had coitus with the victim as she was reportedly “fading in and out” of consciousness.
Later that day the victim received a medical exam specifically for sexual assault victims.
He, McLemore, was arrested in April 2024 and after being released on bail, vowed the truth would emerge.
Ben McLemore was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He spent 10 seasons in the NBA appearing in 556 games across time with the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers. He last appeared in the Association in the. 2021-22 season with Trail Blazers and posted per-game averages of 10.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. For his career, McLemore averaged 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists.
McLemore has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
