Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. found himself in a troubling situation on Monday when he was arrested in New York City, facing allegations of assaulting his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick. According to information from police sources shared with ABC News, Porter, who is 23 years old, has been formally charged with assault and strangulation in connection to this incident.
The incident unfolded after Porter returned to the Millennium Hilton near U.N. Plaza in the early hours of Monday morning, following an evening out with Gondrezick. Reportedly, Gondrezick was upset by the late hour of his return and decided to lock the door. This led to a disturbing turn of events where Porter, with the assistance of hotel security, forcibly entered the room and assaulted Gondrezick.
As a result of the altercation, Gondrezick suffered injuries, including a cut on the right side of her face and neck pain. This incident occurred while the couple was in New York City to attend Fashion Week, and they were even photographed together at the Vogue Smart Tox NYFW Kickoff event on September 7th.
Kevin Porter Jr., a rising star in the NBA, was drafted as the No. 30 pick in the 2019 NBA draft after his college career at the University of Southern California. He had a breakthrough season in 2022-23, showcasing his talent with averages of 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.
On the other hand, Kysre Gondrezick, 26, had a collegiate basketball career that took her from Michigan to West Virginia before she was drafted as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. Although she played one season for the Fever, she has not participated in the last two WNBA seasons and currently remains a free agent.
Notably, this is not Porter’s first encounter with legal issues, as he was previously arrested in November 2020 in Ohio on a weapons charge. While a grand jury declined to indict him, the incident led to his inactivity for the first half of the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, ultimately resulting in his trade to the Houston Rockets in January 2021. The recent arrest in New York adds to the challenges he faces both on and off the court.
