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Tag: Indiana Fever

  • Journo banned after ‘really gross’ exchange with rising US basketball star Caitlin Clark

    Journo banned after ‘really gross’ exchange with rising US basketball star Caitlin Clark

    The Indianapolis Star has suspended sports columnist Gregg Doyel after he went viral for an embarrassing interaction with Caitlin Clark at a press conference.

    Doyel is suspended for two weeks, longtime Indianapolis sportswriter Bob Kravitz reported.

    As additional punishment, Doyel will not go to Clark’s rookie games this season but will instead cover them for opinion stories by watching them on TV.

    The report did not specify if the suspension is paid or unpaid, The New York Post reports.

    The Indianapolis Star is owned by USA Today’s parent company, Gannett.

    The Indiana Fever selected Clark first overall in the WNBA Draft and on April 17 introduced her to the media.

    At the press conference, Doyel made the heart gesture with his hands at Clark, a motion she made toward her family during games while she played college basketball at Iowa.

    You can watch the incident in the video above

    “You like that?” Clark responded.

    “I like that you’re here, I like that you’re here,” Doyel said.

    Clark explained that she made the gesture at her family, and Doyel responded, “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”

    Caitlin Clark shrugged off the questions. Photo: X, Clutch Sports.Source: Twitter

    Doyel has not filed a story since a Colts NFL Draft piece on April 29, missing Clark’s preseason debut as well as the Pacers vanquishing the Bucks in the first round of the NBA playoffs and the start of their series against the Knicks.

    Shortly after the bizarre interaction with Clark, Doyel wrote an apology column.

    “I now realise what I said and how I said it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean it was just wrong,” he concluded the column. “Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry.”

    Doyel’s behaviour at the infamous press conference was labelled “gross” by some basketball commentators.

    Fellow journalists and media members, including Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, were perturbed by how the columnist conducted himself.

    The bizarre scene was lambasted by many on social media, with Portnoy sharing a Barstool blogpost on his X account that called Doyel a “pervert.”

    Gregg Doyel was suspended. Photo: Instagram / Gregg Doyel.Source: Instagram
    Caitlin Clark is a baller. Photo by Gregory Shamus / GETTY IMAGES.Source: AFP

    Portnoy wrote out a follow-up post on X to clear up his re-share.

    “To clarify I meant to call Gregg Doyle a sexist pervert. Which he is based on his nauseating actions today,” Portnoy wrote on X.

    Portnoy wasn’t alone in his assessment of the situation, as CBC Sports senior contributor Shireen Ahmed went as far as to say Doyel should get his credentials taken away.

    “Almost every one of my women colleagues & students in sport media and sports journalism are sharing that clip of Gregg Doyel and Caitlin Clark with disgust,” Ahmed wrote on X.

    “We are rightly furious and fed up. His creds should be revoked and offered to an unentitled journalist who respects women.”

    Katie Mox of CBS Sports, was in the same camp.

    “What happened to Caitlin Clark today at her first press conference in Indy was really gross. I hope she gets an apology,” she wrote.

    Doyel did not immediately respond to an email from The Post asking if he has any additional comment.

    — This story originally appeared on The New York Post and has been republished with permission

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  • Jason Whitlock's bizarre advice to NBA stars to be more profitable by pretending to be Caitlin Clark fans

    Jason Whitlock's bizarre advice to NBA stars to be more profitable by pretending to be Caitlin Clark fans

    There is no doubt Caitlin Clark‘s ascension to the WNBA may have changed the game forever after a sharp rise in the league’s popularity. But one basketball expert, Jason Whitlock, thinks her impact has been so vast that she could filter into the minds of NBA players too.

    For decades, NBA players have been chosen as the face for sports brands and endorsing products for lucrative fees. But Clark, the No.1 pick for the 2024 WNBA Draft, is tearing up the status quo after her record-breaking stint in college basketball.

    Caitlin Clark’s thoughtful analysis of her WNBA debut in the Indiana-Dallas game

    The 22-year-old, now playing for the Indiana Fever, already has 2.2million followers on Instagram and Whitlock, speaking on the latest episode of his show ‘Fearless’, predicts it won’t be long before NBA players queue up to partner with Clark to get sponsors.

    “The other thing that I think will be different about this next generation of NBA stars, at least this year, in the next year, for the next two years, at least if not longer, I think they’re going to be competing with Caitlin Clark in terms of like what brands are using in commercials, and just pushing who is the face of basketball, more so than the face of the NBA,” Whitlock said.

    “If I’m Ant-Man [Anthony Edwards] and I really want to be the face of the league, I pretend like I’m the biggest Caitin Clark fan on the planet and try to bait marketers and brands [by saying], ‘Hey, put me and Caitlin Clark in a commercial’.”

    Caitlin Clark becomes a marketer’s dream

    Clark recently signed a long-term shoe sponsorship deal with Nike, joining a long line of NBA and WNBA stars such as Michael Jordan in doing so. The figures on the deal have not been disclosed, but it is believed she will earn an eight-figure fee from the sportswear giant.

    The impact of Clark cannot be denied, with the WNBA Draft attracting 2.4 million viewers – four times the number of viewers that tuned in for the 2023 Draft.

    Likewise, fans followed the Iowa Hawkeyes just to catch a glimpse of her in action after she broke the all-time points scorer record with 3,951 points, surpassing the total previously set by Kelsey Plum.

    Now with the Fever, it seems feasible that Clark could rise to the same level of popularity as some of the NBA’s most iconic players if she continues on the same trajectory.



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  • Caitlin Clark opens up to the world and shows off the man who owns her heart

    Caitlin Clark opens up to the world and shows off the man who owns her heart

    Caitlin Clark scored a different kind of win recently – celebrating a heartfelt milestone with her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery.

    Marking their first anniversary on Wednesday, the couple took to Instagram to share their joy, cuddled up on a couch in a candid snapshot. Clark, 22, expressed her affection with a simple yet poignant caption: “one year of the best mems w my fav person ,” she wrote. “you make everyday [sic] better and I can’t wait for many more adventures together… love you .”

    McCaffery, also a former University of Iowa athlete, reciprocated the sentiment with his own sweet post, praising their journey together. “One year w the best doing life w u has been easy, and you never cease to amaze me,” he penned. “can’t wait to watch u live out ur dreams in person love you .”

    The exchange of affection didn’t end there. McCaffery delighted followers with a humorous slow-motion video capturing Clark‘s on-court facial expressions, prompting a sarcastic but playful response from the basketball star herself: “Nice video,” she commented under his post.

    Caitlin Clark dominates Indiana Fever practice, strikes fear in WNBA

    Caitlin Clark has had a busy month

    Their anniversary celebrations come amidst a whirlwind month for Clark. On April 15th, she made history as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft, marking a monumental achievement in her career. Despite public scrutiny over her initial WNBA contract, valued at $338,000 over four years, Clark solidified her earning potential with an impressive 8-year deal with Nike, reportedly worth $28 million.

    Throughout Clark’s meteoric rise, McCaffery has been a steadfast presence by her side. From the highs of draft night celebrations to the lows of collegiate defeats, including the Iowa Hawkeyes’ heartbreaking Final Four loss earlier this month, McCaffery has remained a pillar of support. Following the emotional conclusion of Clark’s collegiate career, McCaffery took to social media to share a poignant moment captured on camera, captioning the image simply: “My GOAT.”

    As Clark prepares to embark on her professional basketball journey with the Indiana Fever, supported by a lucrative endorsement deal, the bond between her and McCaffery serves as a reminder of the power of love amidst the challenges of athletic pursuit. As they celebrate their first year together, their story continues to inspire both on and off the court.



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  • Journalist slammed after ‘really gross’ exchange with Caitlin Clark goes viral

    Journalist slammed after ‘really gross’ exchange with Caitlin Clark goes viral

    Caitlin Clark said she’s had a “whirlwind” week, but she probably didn’t expect an interaction with a reporter to go viral on social media.

    Clark, the Iowa superstar taken first overall by the Indiana Fever in this week’s WNBA draft, held a press conference Wednesday that included an awkward question-and-answer riff with a columnist from the Indianapolis Star — and a number of people, journalists and media members, including Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, were perturbed by how the columnist conducted himself.

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    NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 15: Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall pick by the Indiana Fever. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    During the press conference, Gregg Doyel started his interaction with Clark by saying: “Real quick, let me do this,” and according to reporters covering the event, the columnist made a heart with his hands — a signature move Clark has used on the court to signal to her family after her college games.

    “You like that?” Clark responded.

    “I like that you’re here, I like that you’re here,” Doyel said.

    “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game,” Clark said of the hand gesture.

    Doyel then responded: “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”

    The bizarre scene was lambasted by many on social media, with Portnoy sharing a Barstool blogpost on his X account that called Doyel a “pervert.”

    Portnoy wrote out a follow-up post on X to clear up his re-share.

    “To clarify I meant to call Gregg Doyle a sexist pervert. Which he is based on his nauseating actions today,” Portnoy wrote on X.

    Portnoy wasn’t alone in his assessment of the situation, as CBC Sports senior contributor Shireen Ahmed went as far as to say Doyel should get his credentials taken away.

    “Almost every one of my women colleagues & students in sport media and sports journalism are sharing that clip of Gregg Doyel and Caitlin Clark with disgust,” Ahmed wrote on X.

    “We are rightly furious and fed up. His creds should be revoked and offered to an unentitled journalist who respects women.”

    Katie Mox of CBS Sports, was in the same camp.

    “What happened to Caitlin Clark today at her first press conference in Indy was really gross. I hope she gets an apology,” she wrote.

    Meg Linehan, a senior writer at The Athletic, called into question more than just the interaction itself.

    “That Caitlin Clark video highlights a lot of things in one very small clip, but it’s also worth discussing how that’s just the tip of the iceberg — how much does that approach reflect the decision makers who still shape coverage at every level?” Linehan wrote.

    After getting crushed by scores of people, Doyel issued a mea culpa on X, labelling his actions as “oafish.”

    “Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature [heart hands],” he wrote. “My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologise. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.”

    Doyel also later wrote a column on the matter.

    Clark’s week included an appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” getting picked first overall in the draft, having President Biden discuss her WNBA pay and appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” to talk about the aforementioned hectic week.

    But the interaction with Doyel was probably not on the superstar’s bingo card.

    This article first appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

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  • ‘Can’t be right’: Joe Biden, sports world fume at WNBA No.1 draft pick Caitlin Clark’s ‘jarring’ payday

    ‘Can’t be right’: Joe Biden, sports world fume at WNBA No.1 draft pick Caitlin Clark’s ‘jarring’ payday

    Is that all she’ll get?

    That was the overwhelming response to basketball fans realising Caitlin Clark would earn just A$119,000 in her first season as a professional player.

    Clark, 22, was selected first in the WNBA Draft on Tuesday (AEST) amid expectations she will have a transformative effect on women’s professional basketball.

    The Indiana Fever made it official, taking the Iowa Hawkeyes star with the first pick.

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    Clark fell just short of winning an NCAA title with Iowa but has already taken women’s basketball to another stratosphere, breaking the record for the most career points by a college player, male or female.

    Her long range sharpshooting ability has attracted a growing legion of fans and earned comparisons to the NBA’s all-time three-point leader Steph Curry.

    Clark will earn A$527,000 over four years, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

    In comparison, Australia’s Liz Cambage is reportedly earning more than A$1 million for a season in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.

    The WNBA’s salaries mean Clark will make significantly more money from endorsements, which already include Nike, Gatorade, State Farm and Panini.

    Clark recently declined a A$7.8 million offer from rapper Ice Cube to play in his BIG 3 league.

    Caitlin Clark was taken with the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
    Clark made the WNBA Draft a must watch event. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    ESPN journalist and current contributor to The Atlantic Jemele Hill took to X on Tuesday in a lengthy post about the situation that the WNBA faces and responded to critics who bashed what the league was paying its newest star, Clark.

    “I’m already annoyed by this conversation because for years, WNBA players have fought for more money,” Hill wrote.

    “And when they were outspoken, so many of y’all told them to shut up or reminded them how they had no value The NBA has had 50+ years of investment, media coverage, etc. After 27 years, the WNBA will not be the current NBA. So stop comparing them.”

    Hill went on to point out that WNBA players compete for four months and are given free housing and cars as part of their deals before suggesting that the lower salaries were “why so many women’s players play overseas to boost/supplement their income.”

    “Weaponising this information against WNBA players is another form of misogyny,” Hill said.

    “These women have been dreaming of playing professionally in front of American audiences their whole lives,” Hill continued. “Instead of clowning and reminding them of what they’re not — buy the merchandise, go to the games, and watch the games on television.

    “Very easy to criticise when most of y’all couldn’t get paid to compete at anything.”

    Hill had been complimentary of Clark’s play and said she believed it would translate to the WNBA, but she also criticised the way that Clark has been held up by the media.

    She shoots like Steph Curry but will make a pittance in the WNBA. Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP.Source: AFP
    Clark will make more money from endorsements. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Still, Clark’s impact on women’s basketball has been hard to deny after a record 2.4 million people tuned in to ESPN on Monday to watch the WNBA draft.

    That number was higher than last year’s MLB draft on ESPN/MLB Network and the NHL draft, which also aired on ESPN.

    Michael Rubin, CEO of merchandise seller Fanatics, said Clark had the highest selling jersey on draft night of any athlete in any sport in the company’s history.

    US sports commentator Bill Simmons on his podcast said Clark has already had an effect similar to “sports shifters” Tiger Woods, Conor McGregor and the Williams sisters in elevating their respective sports to the mainstream.

    The WNBA’s relatively paltry salaries have been criticised by commentators and even US President Joe Biden weighed in.

    “Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all,” President Biden wrote on X.

    “But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share.

    “It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.”

    Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson wrote on X: “These ladies deserve so much more … Praying for the day.”

    Today show host Hoda Kotb said on Tuesday: “They’ve already sold out games. She had the highest ratings, her teams and the Final Four had the highest ratings — higher than the World Series, higher than the NBA. So, I was like, what is she going to get paid? Because finally, you can get a real paycheck. Then I saw it and was like, this can’t be right.”

    Co-host Jenna Bush Hager added: “Honestly the gap is so jarring … We’re talking about equal pay. That ain’t even close.”

    — With NY Post, AFP

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  • Hollywood actor loses his mind over taunt as new biggest name in US hoops goes off… again

    Hollywood actor loses his mind over taunt as new biggest name in US hoops goes off… again

    Remember the name Caitlin Clark.

    The 22-year-old, who has already rewritten the college basketball record books, took another step to greatness on Tuesday AEDT with a blistering performance to lead Iowa to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

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    In a blockbuster rematch of last year’s NCAA championship game, the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the LSU Tigers 94-87 in a thrilling Elite Eight match-up in Albany, New York.

    Clark scored nearly half her team’s tally, finishing with 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds.

    She made nine three-pointers and every one of them was crucial as scores were tied 45-45 at halftime.

    Clark nailed dagger after dagger, prompting a hilarious reaction from LSU’s Hailey Van Lith, who could only shrug her shoulders when Clark drained a three-pointer after being defended closely.

    It was a revenge game for Clark, who took bragging rights over Angel Reese after the LSU centre pointed at her ring finger and taunted Clark with the John Cena ‘You can’t see me’ gesture after winning last year’s title.

    Actor and Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis couldn’t get enough of the action, mimicking Reese’s taunt in the stands as Clark went berserk on court.

    Angel Reese taunts Caitlin Clark after winning last year’s NCAA title. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
    Jason Sudeikis was loving it as Caitlin Clark went berserk. Photo: ESPN.Source: FOX SPORTS

    Reese brushed aside talk of the rivalry pre-game, saying she and Clark don’t hate each other. But the loss means LSU are eliminated and Reese and coach Kim Mulkey’s dream of going back-to-back is over.

    Iowa will face either Southern California or Connecticut for a spot in the championship game, while South Carolina and North Carolina State will battle it out in the other Final Four match-up.

    A NCAA championship is the one title Clark hasn’t won. Earlier this season she became the highest scoring player, male or female, in NCAA Division 1 basketball history.

    In the victory over LSU, she also broke the previous record for the most three-pointers in Division 1 history (537).

    “This one feels a little bit better,” Clark said after the win.

    “It’s my senior year with this group, and a lot of people counted us out at the beginning of the year.

    “And all we did was work really hard … But the job’s not finished.”

    Clark rattled in four of her three-pointers in the third quarter to help take the game away from LSU and stay on track for a fairytale ending to her collegiate career.

    “I think just confidence, being confident in all the work that I put in, trusting my teammates,” Clark said of her third quarter scoring spree.

    “We knew it was going to be physical but we weathered every storm. But you’ve got to give them a lot of credit they had a great year.”

    Caitlin Clark could be the next Steph Curry. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP.Source: AFP

    Basketball fans and commentators were simply in awe of Clark’s shooting ability as she dragged Iowa over the line.

    ESPN’s commentator Ryan Ruocco exclaimed at fulltime: “Galactic greatness from Caitlin Clark on display yet again!”

    NBA commentator Molly Morrison wrote on X: “Never thought i’d see someone else with the same shooting abilities as steph but caitlin clark is HER.”

    Shea Serrano posted: “Caitlin clark hitting a goofy 28-footer fading left over van lith after van lith missed a wide open 3 is very much a f*** you from caitlin lol what a monster.”

    Women’s hoops host LaChina Robinson said: “This game came down to Caitlin Clark. Period. Game over.”

    Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde said: “Watching Clark shoot is just a thrill. Epic performance.”

    Neroli Meadows added: “Atmosphere in the NCAA Elite 8 sounds unreal. Clark v Reese… love to see it.”

    Caitlin Clark celebrates Iowa’s win over LSU. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.Source: AFP

    Clark is regarded as one of the greatest players — male or female — in the history of college basketball, an iconic, generational talent who this season overtook 1960s star Pete Maravich as the all-time leading scorer in collegiate hoops.

    Her lethal shooting from beyond the arc has drawn comparisons to WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu and NBA three-point scoring leader Steph Curry — who faced off in a three-point contest at the NBA All-Star weekend in January.

    Clark is set to be taken with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.

    Her career has sparked a commercial bonanza for college basketball, attracting sellout crowds and drawing huge television audiences.

    Her impact — dubbed the “Caitlin Clark Effect” has been compared to singer Taylor Swift and has even seen her followers dubbed “Clarkies”, mirroring Swift’s fervent fanbase of “Swifties”.

    Rule changes to US college sports have allowed her to accept endorsement deals with such sponsors as Nike, Gatorade and State Farm, even finding her way onto TV commercials while still in school.

    With AFP

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  • Details emerge after Kevin Porter Jr.’s alleged attack on girlfriend

    Details emerge after Kevin Porter Jr.’s alleged attack on girlfriend

    Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr.’s girlfriend was left with a broken bone in her neck after the NBA player allegedly relentlessly beat and choked her at their Big Apple hotel, prosecutors said Wednesday — as he was released on $75,000 bail.

    Porter, 23, is accused of repeatedly punching his 26-year-old girlfriend, Kysre Gondrezick, in the face and choking her until she couldn’t breathe inside their room at the four-star Millennium Hilton New York Hotel in Midtown early Monday, according to a criminal complaint.

    The savage beatdown allegedly only stopped when Gondrezick — a former WNBA player — fled the room and was found bloodied and bruised by hotel employees in the hall, prosecutors said during Porter’s arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

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    The pro baller, whose full name is Bryan Kevin Porter Jr., was arrested at about 6.30 a.m. Monday and charged with assault and strangulation after cops received a 911 call about the alleged attack.

    His girlfriend told officers that Porter had struck her with a closed fist multiple times — leaving her with an inches-long gash above her right eye, prosecutors said.

    The hoopster then allegedly “forcefully” squeezed Gondrezick’s neck with his hands, “causing her to experience difficulty breathing, redness and bruising to her neck, and substantial pain,” the complaint charges.

    After being taken to NYU Langone Medical Center, doctors confirmed that Gondrezick — who previously played for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky — had suffered a fractured vertebra in her neck, the filing said.

    Prosecutors with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had requested Porter’s bail be set at $100,000 during his arraignment, citing a history of alleged abuse against his girlfriend — including an incident when he rammed his car into hers.

    Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested at about 6.30 a.m. Monday and charged with assault and strangulation. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzer had also told the court that Porter, who lives in Houston, Texas, is known to have access to multiple firearms, and was arrested out of state in 2020 on gun charges, which were later dropped.

    Judge Michael Ryan, however, instead set the NBA star’s bail at $75,000 and granted a full temporary restraining order against him.

    Porter — who signed a $63.4 million contract with the Rockets in 2022 — was silent as he left the courthouse and ushered into a waiting car following his arraignment.

    He is due back in court on Oct. 16.

    His defence lawyer, Stephanie Kelemen of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, didn’t return a request for comment.

    Police sources have said the alleged assault on Gondrezick took place after the couple had gone out Sunday night and later returned to the hotel.

    Gondrezick was asleep when her pro baller beau allegedly started beating her, the sources added.

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    “We are aware of the reports regarding Kevin Porter Jr.,” an NBA spokesperson told The Post in the wake of his arrest.

    “The league office is in contact with the Houston Rockets and in the process of gathering more information.”

    Meanwhile, Gondrezick’s sister reportedly took to her Instagram Stories to warn Porter to “count [his] days” after he was slapped with the charges, according to Clutch Points.

    “@kevinporterjr if you think you gone touch my sister & not get touched,” Kalabrya Haskins wrote in a since-expired post. “Count ya f—ing days. Better hope and pray you’ll be able to ever walk again let alone dribble.

    “You may have gotten away with this s–t in the past cause yo mama ain’t beat ya a–, but we spank lil punk a– painting nail sissy b—-es like you every day. Don’t show up to that crib. We gone do it to you. Lil b—h.”

    Kevin Porter Jr and Kysre Gondrezick. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Getty Images for Vogue)Source: Getty Images

    Porter has a history of outbursts and was shipped from Cleveland to Houston in January 2021 after getting into a screaming match and tossing food when his locker was moved to a wall with younger players, The Athletic reported at the time.

    He was also charged with improperly handling a firearm in a vehicle in Cleveland in November 2020 — though the case was dropped a month later.

    In January 2022, he had to be separated from then-Houston assistant coach John Lucas during a halftime exchange that saw Porter lose his temper and throw an object, The Athletic reported.

    This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.

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  • NBA star arrested after alleged vicious hotel assault of ex-WNBA girlfriend

    NBA star arrested after alleged vicious hotel assault of ex-WNBA girlfriend

    Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested Monday on charges of assault and strangulation of a woman in an early morning hotel room incident, according to multiple reports.

    Police sources told ABC News, ESPN, the New York Post and Houston Chronicle that Porter had been locked out of his hotel room and after hotel security helped him enter, he attacked his sleeping girlfriend, a former Women’s NBA player.

    The NBA player allegedly hit Gondrezick multiple times and placed his hands around her neck, police told the NY Post.

    The woman, identified as Kysre Gondrezick, was taken to a hospital with neck pain and a cut on her face, according to the reports, while Porter was taken into custody around 6.30am local time.

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    Kevin Porter Jr and Kysre Gondrezick at the start of New York Fashion Week last week. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Getty Images for Vogue)Source: Getty Images

    They had appeared together at a Fashion Week event earlier on Sunday night. Gondrezick previously played for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky teams in the WNBA.

    Porter, 23, was a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played one season for the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Rockets in January 2021.

    “We are in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter involving Kevin Porter Jr.,” the Rockets said in a statement.

    An NBA spokesman told The Athletic and ESPN the league was aware of the reports and in contact with the Rockets while gathering more information.

    Porter heads into the upcoming NBA campaign off the best season of his career, having averaged career-highs of 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game for Houston last season as well as 5.7 assists and a career-high 44.2% shooting accuracy rate.

    Porter signed a $63.4 million USD contract with the Rockets in 2022.

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