Former Lakers guard arrested on rape charges

A former NBA player who previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers has been taken into custody this week on serious allegations. KGW News from Portland, Oregon, reported on Wednesday that Ben McLemore, a former NBA guard, was arrested by U.S. Marshals at the Portland International Airport on Tuesday due to an outstanding warrant from Clackamas County. McLemore was formally charged on Wednesday afternoon with first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse.

 

These charges are related to an incident reported by a woman in October 2021, when McLemore was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. The woman alleged she was sexually assaulted in a Lake Oswego neighborhood and identified McLemore as the perpetrator. The Lake Oswego Police Department initiated an investigation into the allegations but faced delays as McLemore started playing overseas. However, in February 2024, a grand jury in Clackamas County reviewed the evidence and issued a sealed indictment against McLemore, leading to his arrest.

McLemore, now 31 years old, was a top draft pick by the Sacramento Kings in 2013 (selected seventh overall). Throughout his NBA career, which included stints with five different teams, he averaged 9.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He notably participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2014. Following his time with the Blazers in the 2021-22 season, during which he played 64 games, McLemore continued his professional basketball career in China, Greece, and Spain. He is currently listed as a member of Spain’s Río Breogán, although the team did not qualify for the Liga ACB playoffs this season, potentially explaining McLemore’s return to the United States.