Former NBA, Kansas forward Ben McLemore found guilty of first-degree rape

Ben McLemore, who played a decade of notable basketball in college and the pros, faced allegations and a charge of rape beginning in April of 2024. Now, the verdict is out in that case against him.

On Thursday, a Clackamas County jury in Oregon found McLemore guilty of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and a count of second-degree sexual abuse, according to KGW8 News in Portland. McLemore was also found not guilty on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse.

This stems from an October 2021 incident at a house party, hosted by Robert Covington, one of McLemore’s teammates with the Portland Trail Blazers, around Lake Oswego, per KGW8. The female victim in the alleged assault testified she had been drinking heavily that night, and thus was unable to consent to any matter. McLemore, though, claimed the sex that night was consensual, according to KGW8.

The victim would later identify McLemore to law enforcement, and police were able to connect him to the alleged crime with evidence. A warrant for his arrest was issued in February 2024, per KGW8. Though, due to his involvement playing international basketball, McLemore wasn’t arrested by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Oswego Police Department until April of 2024 at Portland International Airport. After being arraigned in court, McLemore released a statement the following day, saying he was both not guilty of the accusation and that he had complied fully with the investigation.

McLemore played one season in college at Kansas before a nine-year NBA career with the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trailblazers. He arrived in Lawrence as a top recruit and left as a Second-Team consensus All-American and All Big-12 First-Team selection after posting 15.9 points (49.5% FG, 42% 3PT on 2.0 makes), 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals for the 2012-13 Jayhawks, which reached the Sweet 16. Then, after being the No. 7 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, McLemore averaged 9.0 points (41.4% FG, 36.3% 3PT on 1.6 makes), 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in the NBA. After leaving the league in 2022, McLemore played overseas for teams in China, Greece, Spain, and Turkey.

This is a developing story involving McLemore. More is to come for him legally now with the outcome being of him found guilty on three of four counts of some very serious crimes.