Oregon Jury Finds Ex-NBA Player Ben McLemore Guilty of Rape

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Former NBA shooting guard Ben McLemore was found guilty of raping a woman in 2021 when he was still playing for the Portland Trailblazers.

On July 3, 2025, an Oregon jury deliberated McLemore’s case in an 11-day trial, convicting the 32-year-old NBA athlete with one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.

According to the summary report, the incident happened on October 3, 2021, during a house party of his former teammate, Robert Covington.

The victim reportedly passed out on a couch at 2 AM, where she had difficulty walking and vomited before settling in.

Statements proved that McLemore slept on the same couch as the victim and received multiple penetrations. However, his defense team said that what they did was in approval, claiming that he was also drunk when the intercourse took place.

McLemore was already arrested in April 2024 and claimed that the real truth would come out with what really transpired during Covington’s house party.

However, the Oregon jury didn’t buy into McLemore’s defense and stated: “We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County.”

McLemore was a former highly-touted prospect and was selected seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings during the 2013 NBA Rookie Draft ceremony.

Although he failed to surpass the majority’s expectations in his nine-year NBA career, McLemore became a solid spot-up shooter and was tapped by the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Trailblazers.

He averaged 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and a respectable 41.4% shooting percentage. However, after his stint with the Trailblazers, no team in the NBA was able to sign him, resulting in his move overseas.

McLemore continued to play for the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), AEK Athens, Rio Breogan, and Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli basketball club in Turkey.