NBA player, Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter busted for assault

New York Police arrested NBA player Kevin Porter Jr. on charges of assault and strangulation Monday, multiple news outlets reported. This was after the Houston Rockets player allegedly assaulted his girlfriend—the latest in a series of misconduct incidents from the young basketball player.

Porter, 23, pleaded not guilty to felony assault and strangulation charges in connection with the incident early Monday in Manhattan. Prosecutors said he didn’t stop until his 26-year-old girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, ran out into the hallway covered in blood.

The incident began after both Porter and his girlfriend had been out, the sources said. She later returned to the hotel room, and she locked him out. That’s when the incident escalated, and hotel security alerted police.

Gondrezick told police that Porter punched her repeatedly in the face, causing a long gash above the right eye. It also caused bruising and substantial pain to her face, according to a criminal complaint.

Gondrezick, 26, said Porter also wrapped his hands around her neck and strangled her, causing her to have difficulty breathing, redness and bruising to her neck, and loss of motion to her left arm.

Medics transported her to NYU Langone Medical Center, where they confirmed that Porter had fractured a vertebra in her neck.

Gondrezick, the fourth pick in the 2021 WNBA draft, played one season for the Indiana Fever and is currently a free agent. She is also an actress and model.

Porter and Gondrezick started dating in February 2022, according to an anniversary message she posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Mirah Curzer said Porter has a history of abusing Gondrezick, including an incident in which he rammed his car into hers.

Kevin Porter And His History Of Violence

This incident is not the first allegation of misconduct against Porter. In August 2020, he was accused of assaulting a woman by punching her and pulling her hair. This incident happened in Cleveland, where he was playing for the Cavaliers at the time. A few months later, the police arrested Porter when they discovered a loaded handgun in his car after a crash. Porter claimed he was unaware of the gun’s presence, and his charges were eventually dropped.

The Cavaliers traded Porter to the Rockets a few months later after he reportedly blew up at the team’s general manager. He did this after finding out that his locker had been moved to make room for a newly acquired player.

The NBA fined Porter $50,000 for violating the league’s COVID-19 safety rules by visiting a strip club in April 2021. In January 2022, the Rockets suspended Porter for a game after coach Stephen Silas said he had “lost his temper.”

Porter is due back in court on Oct. 16. The Rockets are scheduled to play a preseason game that day in San Antonio, with their regular season tipping off about two weeks later.