On Saturday, the New York Post reported that NBA star Kristaps Porzingis had been accused of a sexual assault by a woman during his time with the New York Knicks. The alleged rape was reported to have happened only a few hours after Porzingis tore his ACL in Feb. 6, 2018 game against Milwaukee Bucks – an injury that ended his season.
According to reporting by Adrian Wojnarowski, the woman contacted the New York Knicks’ legal team in an attempt to obtain money she was purportedly owed through “private mediation.”
The woman, who reported the incident to the New York Police Department on Thursday, is reportedly seeking $68,000 from Porzingis, an amount the 23-year-old allegedly agreed to pay toward the woman’s younger brother’s college tuition.
Following from ESPN,
ESPN obtained a series of text messages between the woman and Porzingis, as well as emails between her and the Knicks. The texts and emails portray a woman who wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with Porzingis in the aftermath of the alleged assault in February 2018, but who also wanted him to honor what she says was his commitment to contribute $68,000 to a college fund for her brother.
According to the emails, the woman, who lived in the same apartment building as Porzingis, told the Knicks that she went to Porzingis’ apartment to get his autograph in the late-night hours after Porzingis suffered a serious knee injury at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6, 2018. After what the woman told the Knicks was an “extremely aggressive encounter,” she said Porzingis agreed to co-sign a statement with her that promised his payment of $68,000.
Porzingis’ legal counsel, according to ESPN, believes the superstar’s signature and the document he is said to have signed is a forgery. Wojnarowski also reports that the handwritten contract contains errors such as a misspelling of Porzingis’ first name.
In the alleged agreement, the woman wrote: “This agreement effective February 7, 2018, acknowledges the fact that an unexpected escalated sexual intercourse due to an inevitable physical attraction on the part of Kristap (sic) occurred subsequently, warrants compensation payable towards (the woman’s) siblings college tuition in the amount of $68,000. …
” … Mr. Kristap (sic) willingly offered several compensations to (the woman) including business investments. (The woman) ultimately settled with Mr. Kristap’s (sic) offer of a $68,000 check.”
Porzingis, now with the Dallas Mavericks, has not yet commented on the severe allegations and has not played this season as he recovers from the ACL injury. The issue is ongoing, stay tuned to Def Pen as the story develops.
