Throwback: Former Trail Blazers' player Ben McLemore was once arrested on 4 sexual assault charges at an airport

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 16, 2025, 17:00 IST

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Former NBA player Ben McLemore was charged with multiple sexual assault offenses, including first-degree rape and second-degree sexual abuse in 2021 and was arrested in 2024. Despite serious allegations, he was released shortly after posting bail. In 2024, he signed with Yukatel Merkezefendi. McLemore denies the allegations and continues his professional basketball career overseas.

Throwback: Former Trail Blazers' player Ben McLemore was once arrested on 4 sexual assault charges at an airport

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Ben McLemore, one of the most talented and popular players in the NBA, found himself in a huge scandal last year when he got involved in multiple cases of sexual assault. The former NBA player was charged with first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration. While the alleged crimes happened in 2021, it took three years for Ben McLemore to be finally arrested.

Ben McLemore Was Accused Of Multiple Sexual Assault Charges But He Was Released A Few Days Later

Around early October in 2021, a woman had alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the former NBA player, Ben McLemore. The unidentified woman reported the alleged crime to the Lake Oswego Police Department.

Ben McLemore was then arrested at the Portland International Airport in April 2024. As per the authorities involved, the reason that it took around three years to arrest the former NBA player was because his unavailability in Oregon. Ben McLemore was also travelling overseas to participate in matches.
However, Ben McLemore denied all the allegations against him and issued a statement for it. The statement read as, "I am not accused of using physical force to rape someone…my attorneys and I cooperated fully with the investigation. I met every request they made of me, immediately and professionally.”
While the charges that Ben McLemore was accused of, including first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, guarantees a minimum of 45 years in prison. However, Ben McLemore was released within a few days.
According to ESPN, the bail amount for Ben McLemore was set at half a million, with him required to post $50,000. There have been no public updates on the case since then.
In August 2024, Ben McLemore signed a deal with the Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). The talented player started his career in the NBA in 2013 with the Sacramento Kings and later moved on to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ben McLemore later returned to the Sacramento Kings again in 2018 and then brought an end to his career in the NBA when he joined the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021.
Also Read: Throwback: Former Grizzlies player Derrick Rose was once sued for $21 million over sexual assault allegations but was later cleared by a jury

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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