Jury finds Ben McLemore guilty of raping woman in 2021

An Oregon jury found former NBA guard Ben McLemore guilty Thursday of raping a woman in 2021 while he was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Following deliberations that lasted about 10 hours following an 11-day trial, the jury in Clackamas County found the 32-year-old McLemore, who hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022, guilty on one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.

The jury didn’t find him guilty on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse. McLemore had pled not guilty to all four counts.

His sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 at 9:30 a.m. PT.

The charges stem from a report of sexual assault in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on Oct. 3, 2021. Police began investigating, and McLemore was identified as a suspect.

In February 2024, a Clackamas County grand jury heard evidence in the case, including testimony from the woman who said McLemore assaulted her, and issued an indictment against McLemore as well as an arrest warrant, according to police from Lake Oswego.

U.S. Marshals arrested McLemore two months later.

A representative for McLemore didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

McLemore was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft out of Kansas and played for five teams across nine NBA seasons. After playing for the Trail Blazers, McLemore began playing overseas for professional teams in China, Greece and Spain.