Once celebrated as a sharpshooting guard with a million-dollar smile, Ben McLemore’s name now echoes through headlines for all the wrong reasons. On Wednesday, a Clackamas County judge sentenced the former NBA player to 100 months in an Oregon state prison. A jury found him guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a house party back in 2021.
According to ESPN, the 32-year-old McLemore, who hasn’t suited up in the NBA since 2022, was convicted last week on three serious charges: first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse. The Oregon athlete was acquitted on an additional second-degree sexual abuse charge. During sentencing, he appeared in inmate clothing from Clackamas County Jail and chose not to address the court, a silence that spoke volumes.
The incident happened on October 3, 2021, at a party hosted by Robert Covington, McLemore’s then-teammate on the Portland Trail Blazers. According to prosecutors, the woman had been drinking heavily and passed out on a couch. She testified that she woke up to McLemore sexually assaulting her. However, Ben would allegedly say that he will “Work every day” to earn a second chance.
Oregon Athlete and Former NBA Star Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison
“Many people are often afraid to report this type of conduct for a number of reasons,” said Clackamas County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Healy in a statement. “Hopefully, the victim’s strength and courage in this case will give others the fortitude to come forward. The sentence the defendant received today should serve as a reminder that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in our community.”
McLemore, who was arrested by U.S. Marshals two months after a grand jury indicted him in February 2024, has continuously maintained his innocence. In a statement released Wednesday, he seemed to express regret, sort of.
“I strive to live with kindness, to be gentle and show up for my people,” McLemore said. “I care deeply about those around me. And, even in this dark moment, I believe in the power of grace and redemption. I believe in second chances and will work every day to earn mine.” Yet in a follow-up statement, he called the verdict “surprising and disappointing.” The athlete “never believed” he was having sex without full consent.
His attorney, Kristen Winemiller, echoed that sentiment, pushing for Oregon lawmakers to adopt a “second look” process to potentially reduce his sentence. “Beyond the short alcohol-influenced encounter that led to this conviction, he is a considerate and humble person who has lived an honorable, community-focused life,” Winemiller told ESPN. But for the survivor, this wasn’t just an “alcohol-influenced encounter.” Speaking by video during sentencing, she described the last few years as “the longest almost four years of my life.”
Oregon Athlete’s Victim Speaks Out
“I never imagined that reporting this back in 2021 would lead to such an incredibly difficult and long journey,” she said. “These last few years have often felt like a weight that I’ve had to drag behind me… I now understand why so many victims hesitate or never report what happened to them.”
McLemore’s story is a stark reminder of how fast a promising career can unravel. Once a top talent, the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Kansas, he bounced around the league for nine seasons. Playing for teams like the Kings, Rockets, Lakers, and Blazers before heading overseas to China, Greece, and Spain.
Now, instead of traveling for games or practicing buzzer-beaters, he faces almost a decade behind bars. While he and his team push for appeals and talk of redemption, the gravity of the conviction looms large. This case shines a bright (and ugly) light on sexual violence and the obstacles survivors face when coming forward. It also raises tough questions about athlete culture and accountability off the court.
As Ben McLemore begins his sentence, the sports world is left to reconcile the dark reality behind the once-beloved Oregon basketball star’s smile. And for the survivor, there’s finally an ending in sight, and hopefully, a path forward to healing.
