Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. charged with assaulting girlfriend at Manhattan lodge

NEW YORK (AP) — Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested Monday and charged with assault and strangulation after allegedly attacking his girlfriend at a New York Metropolis lodge.

Porter, 23, is accused of hitting the lady a number of occasions and placing his fingers round her neck, police mentioned. The lady, 26, was taken to a hospital with a reduce to the appropriate facet of her face.

The incident occurred round 6:45 a.m. on the Millennium Hilton close to the United Nations in Manhattan, police mentioned.

Porter remained in police custody as of Monday afternoon. It wasn’t instantly identified if he had a lawyer who may communicate on his behalf. A message looking for remark was left for his agent.

In an announcement, the Rockets mentioned: “We’re within the means of gathering info surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr. Now we have no additional remark at the moment.”

Porter, a 2019 first-round draft choose, has performed 4 seasons within the NBA. Final yr, as he averaged 19.2 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per sport, he signed a profitable four-year extension with the Rockets.

His profession, although, has been marred by off-court points.

In November 2020, whereas enjoying for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Porter was arrested after police mentioned they discovered a loaded handgun and marijuana in his automobile after a single-vehicle crash. Porter claimed he didn’t know the gun was there, and his prices have been ultimately dismissed.

The Cavaliers traded Porter to the Rockets a couple of months later after he reportedly blew up on the workforce’s normal supervisor after discovering out that his locker had been moved to make room for a newly acquired participant.

In April 2021, the NBA fined Porter $50,000 for violating the league’s COVID-19 well being and security guidelines by visiting a Miami strip membership. In January 2022, the Rockets suspended Porter for a sport after then-coach Stephen Silas mentioned the participant had a “spirited debate” and “misplaced his mood” at halftime.