In a shocking turn of events, Houston Rockets’ guard, Kevin Porter Jr., finds himself in legal trouble as he faces assault and strangulation charges following an alleged altercation with a woman at a New York City hotel.

The incident unfolded at the Millennium Hilton near the United Nations in Manhattan at approximately 6:45 am ET (10:45 GMT) on Monday, leaving the basketball world stunned. According to police reports, Porter, aged 23, is accused of physically assaulting the 26-year-old woman, resulting in injuries that required medical attention. Follow your favourite basketball team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet, one of the best basketball gambling sites.

As authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered the victim with a laceration to the right side of her face, in addition to her complaints of neck pain. A police spokesperson disclosed that their initial investigation revealed that a “known individual struck her multiple times upon her body and placed his hands around the neck.”

The severity of the incident led to the immediate hospitalization of the victim and the subsequent arrest of Kevin Porter Jr.

Response from the Rockets and the NBA

The Houston Rockets and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have both issued brief statements in response to this troubling situation.

The Rockets, in their statement, stated, “We are in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr. We have no further comment at this time.”

NBA spokesman Mike Bass also addressed the incident, saying, “The league office is in contact with the Houston Rockets and in the process of gathering more information.”

Kevin Porter Jr., who was selected as a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has had a relatively young but promising career. After playing one season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was traded to the Houston Rockets in January 2021.

Throughout his NBA career, Porter has showcased his talent, averaging 15.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 196 games, with 146 of those as a starter, split between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Rockets.

Notably, he inked a four-year extension just last October, a contract valued at up to $82.5 million. However, it’s crucial to note that only his salary of $15.9 million for the upcoming 2023-24 season is fully guaranteed, according to ESPN.

As the legal process unfolds, the basketball community awaits further developments in this concerning case, which has cast a shadow over Kevin Porter Jr.’s promising career. Get the latest updates from the world of basketball only on Nextbet Sports.