128
By Oscar Okhifo
Former NBA player, Ben McLemore has been convicted of raping an incapacitated 21-year-old woman during a 2021 house party in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in a high-profile case that has drawn widespread attention.
A jury on Wednesday found the 32-year-old guilty of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse, following a trial that lasted more than two weeks. He was acquitted on a second count of sexual abuse.
The assault occurred on October 3, 2021, during a party hosted at the home of McLemore’s then-teammate, Robert Covington. Prosecutors told the court that the victim, who had consumed large amounts of alcohol, was unconscious when McLemore assaulted her around 6 a.m. She later partially regained consciousness and found herself being raped, according to testimony.
Photo evidence presented during the trial showed the victim passed out on a couch earlier that morning, reinforcing the prosecution’s argument that she was incapable of giving consent.
Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth, while reacting to the verdict, stated:
“This case demonstrates my office’s readiness in prosecuting criminal acts regardless of the offender’s community status.”
The defense argued the encounter was consensual and claimed McLemore himself was intoxicated. However, jurors rejected that narrative after deliberating for approximately 10 hours.
The case stems from a grand jury indictment filed in February 2024. McLemore was arrested shortly thereafter by U.S. Marshals. Sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2025, and the former athlete faces a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years under Oregon’s Measure 11, with the possibility of up to 20 years in prison.
McLemore, once a promising basketball star, was drafted 7th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft and played for several NBA teams including the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers.
His last stint in the NBA was with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021–22 season.
In recent years, he had continued his professional career overseas in countries including China, Spain, and Turkey.
As the sentencing date approaches, the case remains a sobering reminder of the consequences of sexual violence and the legal system’s ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable, regardless of fame or fortune.