Why Is Former NBA Star Kevin Porter Jr. Not Playing Anymore?
Kevin is in truth nonetheless playing — simply not within the United States.
By Melissa WilletsApr. 24 2024, Published 12:13 p.m. ET
Once upon a time, Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. used to be an NBA megastar.
But then his good fortune modified for the worse, and the Washington native used to be unceremoniously booted from the league.
Why is he not playing anymore? Well, that is not precisely true, because Kevin is playing — simply not within the United States. Read on to determine what Kevin Porter Jr. did to get himself in scorching water, and the place his professional basketball occupation stands lately.
So, why is Kevin Porter Jr. not playing in the NBA?
It used to be September 2022 when Kevin's occupation nosedive started. He'd already survived another scandal — more on that during a moment.
First, let's revisit how in 2022, his then-girlfriend, ex-WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, accused him of home violence in a New York City hotel, according to AP News.
The outlet studies that on the time of the incident, she reported to police that the Rockets superstar punched her within the face with a closed fist repeatedly, leaving her with a deep gash above her eye. She additionally allegedly sustained bruising — as well as different bodily hurt — as a result of the deeply worrying incident.
Since that time, alternatively, Kysre has backtracked on her tale, and said in court docket in January 2023 that prosecutors have been perpetrating a “false narrative.”
The results of the case was that Kevin was in a position to plead down his domestic abuse charge to misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation, per AP News.
“The solution will permit Mr. Porter to position this incident, which involved false prison allegations and false facts, in the back of him with out a felony record and transfer ahead,” the player's legal professionals, Phillip Jobe and Stephanie Kelemen, mentioned in a observation.
But the damage to his occupation used to be finished, with the Rockets buying and selling him to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That group reduce Kevin from its roster, leaving him without an NBA group to name house.
What did Kevin Porter Jr. do after his dismissal from the Oklahoma City Thunder?
A take a look at Kevin's Instagram unearths that he has a new jersey on — however he isn't playing for the NBA.
Instead, consistent with Eurohoops, Kevin Porter Jr. signed with Greek membership PAOK and is now playing for Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League as of early April 2024.
It's worth noting that regardless of proudly donning his new uniform, Kevin turned off the comments to his publish, prone to keep away from any adverse chatter round his previous or his resolution to go abroad to play.
Meanwhile, his debut in a foreign country was once not exactly golden. But PAOK’s play-caller, Stathis Nerantzakis, had this take on Kevin's long run, announcing in a Greek tv interview, "For sure, lack of games was apparent early. He has the quality to help us over the next games."
It's price noting that the domestic abuse case used to be not Kevin's first brush with the legislation, having been accused of wrong dealing with of a firearm in 2020. At that point, he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and did not play all through the 2020–2021 season most likely as a result of the rate, which was later dropped.
If you or any person you recognize is experiencing home violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
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