Kevin Porter Jr. Will No Longer Be Part of Rockets Following Assault Charges
Editors’ note: This story contains alleged accounts of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is a survivor of domestic abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or at https://www.thehotline.org/.
Kevin Porter Jr. did not attend the Rockets’ media day, and the team has informed Porter’s representatives he will not be part of the franchise moving forward, Rockets GM Rafael Stone said Monday.
Porter’s status has been in limbo since he was arrested in New York and charged with assault in connection with an incident involving his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.
On Monday, Stone made it clear the Rockets were moving on.
Porter is facing charges of felony assault and strangulation.
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“The allegations against [Porter] are deeply troubling,” Stone said. “Going back a few weeks, as soon as I heard the allegations, I informed his representatives that he could not be part of the Houston Rockets. He has not been with the team or around the team since that time.”
Porter, 23, averaged 19.2 points in 59 games for the Rockets last season. Porter is owed $15.9 million this season, but because of a uniquely structured contract he has just $1 million guaranteed for the 2024–25 season. Porter, the No. 30 pick in the ’19 draft, has dealt with off-the-court issues for most of his career. In ’20, Porter was accused of punching a woman in Cleveland (no charges were filed) and, in a separate incident, arrested for possession of a loaded firearm (charges were dropped).
The Rockets acquired Porter in 2021 in exchange for a protected second-round pick. While Porter has been productive on the court, he has continued to present maturity issues. In ’21, Porter left a game against Denver at halftime after a heated argument with assistant coach John Lucas II.
Stone said the next steps will be handled by the NBA.
“What’s left for the team to do is evaluate the next steps for our organization that remain in compliance with the league domestic violence policy,” said Stone. “This is now a league matter, and that’s where it’s at.”
