In the aftermath of Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr.’s arrest on assault and strangulation charges following an alleged altercation with his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith did not mince words on a recent episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
Smith, made it unequivocally clear that he would protect his daughters at all costs.
Speaking as a father of two daughters, he declared:
“I’m talking to you as a father of two daughters. Law enforcement is going to be necessary for anybody who puts their hands on my daughter. I promise you that. Any man who puts his hand on my daughter is gonna be a problem. It’s a wrap. Make no mistake about that shit. I speak on behalf of all fathers.”
Smith’s condemnation of Kevin Porter Jr.’s alleged actions was scathing. He expressed his disbelief, saying: “Porter Jr. got to be a real punk. How is it justified to hit a woman?
The incident took place at the Millennium Hilton in Manhattan, where Porter allegedly assaulted Gondrezick, causing her a fractured neck vertebra and a deep gash above her eye, as per court documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Porter’s arraignment saw him enter a plea of not guilty and secure his release on a $75,000 cash bail. However, he has been mandated to maintain a distance from Gondrezick.
However, disputes have arisen regarding the seriousness of the incident.
Gondrezick’s lawyer, Robert Hantman, claimed that statements attributed to her were not her own words, casting doubt on the accuracy of the allegations against Porter.
Facing charges of second-degree assault for the neck fracture, second-degree strangulation, and third-degree assault, Porter has now pleaded that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office drops the charges due to the conflicting accounts of the incident.
Before the start of the current season, Porter signed a lucrative four-year, $63.4 million extension, with only the first year being fully guaranteed. He had become a key player for the Rockets, averaging a career-high 19.2 points in 59 games during the 2022-23 season.
Porter and Gondrezick, who were seen together at a New York Fashion Week event just before the alleged assault, had been dating since February 2022. Gondrezick, a free agent, last played in the WNBA in 2021 for the Indiana Fever.
