Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. found himself in legal trouble after being arrested and charged with assault and strangulation of his girlfriend at a New York hotel on Monday morning, as confirmed by a New York City police spokesperson.
The authorities were alerted to the situation via a 911 call reporting an assault that occurred at 6:45 a.m. Porter, a 23-year-old professional basketball player, was taken into custody after a subsequent investigation. Both charges he faces are felonies, which could have serious consequences for his career and personal life.
The incident reportedly involved Porter's girlfriend, a former WNBA player, according to sources close to the situation. Upon their arrival at the scene, police officers were informed that the 26-year-old woman had sustained a laceration to the right side of her face and was experiencing pain in her neck. A preliminary on-site investigation revealed that an individual known to her had allegedly struck her multiple times on her body and placed his hands around her neck, leading to the charges of assault and strangulation.
The victim was promptly transported to the hospital for medical evaluation, as confirmed by the police spokesperson. Her condition following the incident remains a matter of concern.
In response to the situation, the Houston Rockets issued a statement saying, "We are in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr. We have no further comment at this time." The NBA has also acknowledged Porter's arrest and is actively liaising with the Houston Rockets to gather more information.
It's important to note that, at this stage, the Rockets are not allowed to administer any immediate punishment to Porter, including suspension. According to the NBA's domestic violence policy, Commissioner Adam Silver has the authority to place Porter on administrative leave with pay for "a reasonable period of time." The eventual actions taken by the commissioner will depend on the findings of the case, and they could include fines, suspensions, dismissal, or disqualification from any further association with the league and its teams.
This incident casts a shadow over Kevin Porter Jr.'s career, especially considering his recent four-year contract extension worth up to $82.5 million, which was signed last season. However, the contract is only partially guaranteed due to Porter's history of off-court issues. If the Rockets were to decide to waive Porter based on the results of this investigation or a criminal conviction, the franchise would only be responsible for the $16.9 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract.
Porter's journey in the NBA has been marked by both promise and challenges. He was the No. 30 pick in the 2019 draft and spent one season at USC before entering the NBA. However, he faced suspension during his college career due to conduct issues. He played his rookie season for the Cleveland Cavaliers but did not join the team the following season due to personal reasons. Eventually, he was traded to the Rockets in January 2021 following a contentious shouting match with Cleveland team officials.
As the legal process unfolds, the NBA and the Houston Rockets will continue to gather information and make decisions based on the outcome of the investigation. Kevin Porter Jr.'s future in professional basketball hangs in the balance, and the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing issues of domestic violence within the sports community.
