Houston Rockets player Kevin Porter Jr. was arraigned Tuesday for an alleged attack on his girlfriend who has deep local ties in Southwest Michigan.
According to prosecutors in New York City, Porter allegedly attacked Kysre Gondrezick in a hotel room leaving her with a fractured neck vertebra and a deep cut on her face. 23-year-old Porter pleaded not guilty to felony assault and strangulation charges in connection with the incident that allegedly happened early Monday at a hotel in Manhattan. Prosecutors said he didn’t stop until Gondrezick ran out into the hallway covered in blood.
The NBA player, who had been in police custody since his arrest around 6:45 a.m. Monday, was released after posting bail, which was set at $100,000 bond. He was also ordered to stay away from Gondrezick.
Gondrezick previously played for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky. She attended and played for Benton Harbor High School.
Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Mirah Curzer said in court that this is a serious domestic violence case and Porter has a history of abusing Gondrezick, including an incident in which he rammed his car into hers.
Porter is due back in court in Manhattan on Oct. 16.
The Rockets said in a statement that they were in the process of gathering information and had no further comment.
