Ben McLemore is unlikely to see the outside of a prison cell for a very long time.
A Clackamas County jury found the ex-Portland Trail Blazers player guilty of first-degree rape and sexual abuse after 10 hours of deliberation.
His charge stems from a 2021 party at teammate Robert Covington’s Lake Oswego home where McLemore assaulted a heavily intoxicated 21-year-old college student who had passed out on a couch.
The 32-year-old previously pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The jury found him guilty on all counts, except one of the counts of sexual abuse.
Ben McLemore has been found guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman at a 2021 house party in Lake Oswego. He was convicted on 3 of 4 charges, including first-degree rape, per @KGWNews
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 3, 2025
“The jury found former Portland Trail Blazer Ben McLemore guilty Thursday morning of rape and… pic.twitter.com/2IUlPH6dKf
Ben McLemore shared details about the case in a statement following his arrest in April 2024:
“The charges I was handed in court yesterday appear to allege that in 2021, I had sex with a woman who was too intoxicated to consent. I am not accused of using physical force to rape someone. Rather, I am accused of engaging in sexual activity with someone who now claims she did not consent. I did not rape this woman. I am not sexually abusive. I have never pursued a sexual relationship when I understood the woman was not interested in me and acting willingly. The allegation dates back to October of 2021, during a time I played in Portland.
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During the two-and-a-half-week trial, the woman in question claimed she was incapacitated after a night of heavy drinking and unable to consent.
For his part, McLemore admitted he had also been drinking but testified the sex was consensual.
He told jurors there was no conversation between them before, during, or after the encounter and that he left the house immediately afterward.
McLemore played for the Blazers during the 2021-22 season, averaging just over 10 points per game.
He has since played professionally overseas in Europe, China, and Turkey.
Ben McLemore Facing Years In Prison
Former Trail Blazer Ben McLemore was found guilty Thursday of raping a woman at a booze-fueled team party in Lake Oswego.
The eight men and four women jury deliberated for about 10 hours before returning the verdict.
He faces a minimum of eight years and four months in prison.
His sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 9.
Also Read: More Disturbing Details Emerge After James Harden Is Named As A Defendant In Bombshell Rape Lawsuit
