Former NBA guard Ben McLemore has been sentenced to 100 months in an Oregon state prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a house party in 2021. The incident took place in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego while McLemore was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers during what turned out to be his final season in the NBA.
A Clackamas County jury convicted McLemore on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse. The sentence was handed down following the jury’s verdict.
The assault occurred on the morning of October 3, 2021, at the home of one of McLemore’s then-teammates. According to testimony presented during the trial, the victim had consumed a significant amount of alcohol and passed out on a living room couch. She later regained partial consciousness around 6 a.m. and realized McLemore was sexually assaulting her.
During sentencing, the victim addressed the court via video. She shared the emotional toll the case had taken on her over the nearly four-year process, describing it as a prolonged period filled with trauma and uncertainty. She expressed that coming forward was difficult but necessary and hoped her experience would encourage other survivors of sexual assault to report their abuse.
Prosecutors emphasized the courage it took for the woman to pursue justice and highlighted the importance of accountability in such cases. They pointed to the outcome as a clear message that sexual violence would not be tolerated and that their office remains committed to supporting victims.
McLemore did not speak during the sentencing and appeared in inmate clothing. His legal team argued that the encounter was consensual and pushed for a lighter sentence. His attorney urged state lawmakers to consider a future legal provision that would allow for sentence reevaluation, citing McLemore’s otherwise positive conduct outside of the incident.
The legal proceedings began after a police investigation into the assault led to McLemore being named a suspect. A grand jury indicted him in early 2024, and an arrest warrant was issued. U.S. Marshals took him into custody in April of that year.
Before his legal troubles, McLemore was a promising player who entered the NBA as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Throughout his professional career, he played for multiple teams including the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Trail Blazers. Following his NBA tenure, he continued playing basketball internationally.
Across 556 NBA games with 268 starts, McLemore averaged 9.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He had also played college basketball at the University of Kansas before turning professional.
