Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison for Rape
Former NBA player Ben McLemore has been sentenced to over eight years in prison by an Oregon judge after being found guilty of raping a woman at a 2021 party. The 32-year-old ex-Portland Trail Blazer was convicted of rape, unlawful sexual penetration, and one count of sexual abuse, but was found not guilty on another count of sexual abuse.
The charges stem from a party at the home of McLemore’s then-teammate Robert Covington in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, where a 21-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted. During the trial, prosecutors argued that the sexual encounter was rape, while the defense claimed it was consensual.
The woman testified that she was incapacitated due to alcohol and was unable to consent, while McLemore testified that the encounter was consensual, despite both parties having consumed alcohol.
McLemore, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, has played for several NBA teams including the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers before his last season with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021-2022.
After his NBA career, McLemore played professionally overseas in Europe, China, and Turkey. The sentencing comes as a significant fall from grace for the former basketball star, who now faces a lengthy prison term for his actions.
