Former NBA guard Ben McLemore, once a lottery pick with high expectations, has been found guilty of multiple sexual assault charges stemming from a 2021 incident at a house party in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
A Clackamas County jury delivered the verdict on Thursday morning, convicting McLemore of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. He was acquitted on a second sexual abuse charge.
The assault took place in October 2021 at the home of then-Portland Trail Blazers teammate Robert Covington. The victim, a 21-year-old woman, testified that she was heavily intoxicated and incapacitated, unable to consent to any sexual activity.
She stated she had little memory of the encounter and only became aware of what had happened the next morning, through physical evidence and trauma.
McLemore, 32, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, admitted on the stand that he had been drinking heavily that night, but insisted the encounter was consensual. He told the court there was no conversation between him and the woman before, during, or after the incident and that he left the premises immediately afterward.
McLemore played nine seasons in the NBA, averaging 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He had stints with the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers. Known for his athleticism and streaky shooting, McLemore never fully lived up to his No. 7 overall pick status in the 2013 NBA Draft.
He last played in the league during the 2021–22 season for Portland, averaging 10.2 points per game off the bench before continuing his career overseas in Turkey, China, and Europe.
This conviction puts a dark and permanent stain on what was already a fading professional legacy. Sentencing will follow in the coming weeks, and McLemore now faces the possibility of significant prison time.
The case underscores the continuing issue of sexual violence and accountability, regardless of celebrity or athletic stature.
