Ex-NBA Star Ben McLemore Gets 100 Months for Oregon Rape Conviction

Former NBA guard Ben McLemore was sentenced to over eight years in prison on July 9, 2025, following a guilty verdict in a 2021 rape case in Lake Oswego, Oregon. A Clackamas County jury convicted the 32-year-old on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, and second-degree sexual abuse, though he was acquitted on an additional abuse charge. McLemore, who pleaded not guilty, remained silent as the sentence was delivered.

The case stemmed from an October 2021 incident where a 21-year-old woman reported McLemore assaulted her after she passed out on a couch following heavy drinking. In court, she described the grueling four-year legal battle, saying, "This has been a weight I’ve dragged, a constant reminder of trauma with no end in sight." Her courage was praised by prosecutors, who hope it inspires other victims to come forward.

Clackamas County First Assistant DA Scott Healy emphasized accountability, stating, "This sentence shows such conduct won’t be tolerated, and we’ll fight for justice." McLemore’s defense argued the encounter was consensual, claiming the woman initiated contact and was sober enough to consent, but the jury rejected this narrative.

A former Kansas standout and the seventh overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in 2013, McLemore played nine NBA seasons, ending with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021-22. His fall from professional athlete to convicted felon marks a stark turn, raising questions about accountability in sports culture.