Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested Monday at a New York City hotel on domestic violence charges.
Police responded to a 911 call at 6:45 a.m. ET. After an investigation, Porter was charged with felony counts of assault and strangulation, according to a police spokesperson.
“Upon arrival officers were informed that a 26-year-old female sustained a laceration to the right side of her face and was complaining about pain to her neck,” the spokesperson said, per ESPN. “A preliminary investigation on scene determined that a known individual struck her multiple times upon her body and placed his hands around the neck.”
News reports said the incident involved Porter’s girlfriend, a former WNBA player. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation, police said.
The Rockets and the NBA both released brief statements regarding the situation with Porter, 23.
“We are in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr.,” the Rockets said in a statement. “We have no further comment at this time.”
“The league office is in contact with the Houston Rockets and in the process of gathering more information,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
Porter has averaged 15.3 points, 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 196 career games (146 starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2019-20) and the Rockets.
He signed a four-year extension last October that is worth up to $82.5 million. Only his $15.9 million salary for the upcoming 2023-24 season is fully guaranteed, per ESPN.
–Field Level Media
