Sunday, July 27, 2025
Home Basketball Was Ben McLemore convicted in 2021 rape case? Ex-Lakers guard's legal issues...

Was Ben McLemore convicted in 2021 rape case? Ex-Lakers guard’s legal issues explored

Ben McLemore’s NBA career came to an abrupt end in 2021 after he was accused of raping a 21-year-old in a party. The former Los Angeles Lakers player had pleaded not guilty to the accusations in court, which led to a trial.

Ad

After four years, the trial concluded with the Clackamas County jury finding the former Lakers player guilty of first-degree rape and sexual abuse. The jury reached a verdict on Thursday after deliberating for 10 hours.

Ad

The charges were filed initially against Ben McLemore after he attended his then-Blazers teammate Robert Covington's party at his Lake Oswego home. The plaintiff has accused McLemore of assaulting her while she was passed out on the couch after heavy intoxication.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Although the former Laker player testified that the incident was consensual, the jury convicted him on three of four counts. The two-week-long trial saw McLemore and his accuser testifying. The former Lakers player claimed that his accuser was the first one to make contact with him while he slept.

Ad

However, his testimony did not help him sway the jury. During her emotional testimony, the accuser revealed that she woke up during the assault and was too drunk to move.

"My body felt locked," she said while testifying. "I thought if I played dead, it might stop."

Photos from the party featuring the accuser vomiting and being unconscious backed her story. Ben McLemore's lawyer claimed that Robert Covington saw the accuser initiate contact with her client; however, the former Blazers player never testified.

Ad

The jury has convicted McLemore of rape and unlawful penetration charges but has acquitted him on one sexual abuse count. He now faces at least eight years in prison this summer.


Looking at Ben McLemore's short-lived NBA career

Ben McLemore started his NBA career as a promising shooting guard in the 2013 draft. The Kings drafted him seventh and signed him to a rookie contract. He struggled early on but found his rhythm in his final rookie year.

Ad

He signed a multi-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on July 7, 2017. A right foot fracture kept him out most of his first year. He was sent to the Memphis Hustle, the G League affiliate, then recalled to the main roster and debuted for the Bears on Nov. 11, 2017.

He became a good off-the-bench role player for the Grizzlies but was traded to the Kings again in 2018. The Kings waived him at the end of the 2019 season and he signed with the Rockets. After staying with the Rockets for almost two seasons, Ben McLemore was waived again.

He signed with the Lakers, made his debut against the Heat on April 8, but was waived shortly after. The Blazers signed him on Aug 5, 2021, but he faced charges in October. They released him in 2022 and he moved overseas to play basketball.

Los Angeles Lakers Fan? Check out the latest Lakers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Quick Links

Edited by William Paul
RELATED ARTICLES

Shaquille O’Neal calls himself “Dark Nowitzki” as Lakers legend stuns in pickup basketball in Germany

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal gave himself a new nickname while playing pickup basketball in Germany. O'Neal called himself "Dark Nowitzki" as he showcased his vision and passing with a group of locals. The four-time NBA champion was in Germany as part of his gig as DJ Diesel. Ad In an Instagram post, O'Neal shared a

“Watch this douchebag for 3 more seasons” – Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic hilariously trolls Evan Fournier after new deal news drops

Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic went savage on former teammate Evan Fournier, who signed a new deal with Olympiacos. Vucevic trolled Fournier hard after the former NBA player announced that he signed a three-year contract to stay with the Greek powerhouse. Ad In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Fournier shared that

“LeBron gonna take a minimum from Denver”: NBA fans explode as LeBron James and Nikola Jokic’s agent publicly meet amid trade buzz

LeBron James and Nikola Jokic's agent sent NBA Twitter into a frenzy after linking up on Saturday in Europe. Jokic's agent, Miško Ražnatović, posted a picture of himself, James, and his business associate, Maverick Carter, on a boat in Saint-Tropez, France. Ad He announced their meet-up just a couple of hours before a massive report

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz’s offer of serving tips rejected by British sprinter Lina Nielsen in amusing TikTok skit

In an amusing turn of events, British sprinter Lina Nielsen was seen rejecting tennis tips from Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz and Nielsen were present at the 5k run hosted by GetPRO, a protein drinks, yogurt, and desserts brand in Madrid, Spain. Ad Alcaraz attended the event following his appearance at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, where the

“It’s annoying” – Anna Kalinskaya gets real about challenge of staying calm after beating Emma Raducanu to reach Citi DC Open final

Anna Kalinskaya recently made her feelings known about staying calm after besting Emma Raducanu to reach the Citi Open final. The Russian player is currently gearing up to compete at the finals of the tournament. Ad Kalinskaya proved her dominance at the Citi Open semi-final round by claiming an impressive 6-4, 6-3 win over her

Shaquille O’Neal calls himself “Dark Nowitzki” as Lakers legend stuns in pickup basketball in Germany

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal gave himself a new nickname while playing pickup basketball in Germany. O'Neal called himself "Dark Nowitzki" as he showcased his vision and passing with a group of locals. The four-time NBA champion was in Germany as part of his gig as DJ Diesel. Ad In an Instagram post, O'Neal shared a

“I was probably the slowest of the girls” – Leylah Fernandez reveals how her parents eased her childhood coach’s worries about her physical condition

Leylah Fernandez recently opened up on her physical ability as a young player and highlighted how her parents supported her when the coaches raised concerns. Fernandez picked up the racket when she was five years old and started competing at the age of 10. Ad At 16, Fernandez competed at the Australian Open girls' singles

Recent Comments