Houston Rockets' Kevin Porter Jr. Allegedly Fractured Girlfriend's Vertebrae in NYC Assault

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. is facing legal woes following an alleged altercation with his girlfriend at a New York City hotel. The incident resulted in his girlfriend sustaining a fractured neck vertebrae and a cut above her right eye, according to prosecutors at his arraignment on Tuesday.

Porter, 23, has been charged with felony assault and strangulation in connection with the incident that took place at the Millennium Hilton near the United Nations in Manhattan. During his brief court appearance, he was not required to enter a plea.


To secure his release, Porter was ordered to post $75,000 cash or obtain a $100,000 bond. Additionally, he has been instructed to stay away from his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.


As we await further updates, a message seeking comment from Porter's lawyer remains unanswered.

According to a criminal complaint, Gondrezick reported that Porter punched her repeatedly in the face, causing the cut above her right eye, bruising, and substantial pain. She also alleged that Porter forcefully squeezed her neck, leading to breathing difficulties, redness, and bruising.

Hospital tests confirmed Gondrezick, 26, had sustained a fractured vertebrae in her neck.

The Rockets issued a statement on Monday, stating that they are in the process of gathering information and have no further comments at this time.

Porter's NBA journey has been marked by both on-court success and off-court troubles. Last season, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, earning a lucrative four-year extension with Houston.

However, his past includes an arrest in November 2020 while playing for the Cavaliers, where a loaded handgun and marijuana were found in his car after a single-vehicle crash. Porter claimed ignorance of the gun's presence, and the charges were eventually dropped.

Porter, a 2019 first-round draft pick from USC, was later traded from Cleveland to Houston after an incident where he reportedly clashed with the Cavaliers' general manager over a locker-room issue.

In April 2021, he faced a $50,000 fine from the NBA for violating COVID-19 health and safety rules by visiting a Miami strip club. In January 2022, the Rockets suspended Porter for a game after a halftime incident characterized as a "spirited debate" with the then-coach.

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