Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis has been accused of rape, stemming from an alleged incident that occurred in his New York City apartment last year, just hours after he suffered a season-ending knee injury.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, eight months after the 29-year-old woman claimed she was raped by Porzingis, she contacted the Knicks' legal department in an effort to "mediate in private" a payment of $68,000. Woj reports that no criminal complaint had been filed with New York police at that time, and the Knicks eventually referred the woman to Porzingis' personal legal representation.
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ESPN obtained text messages between the woman and Porzingis, as well as emails between her and the Knicks. The woman, who lived in the same building as Porzingis, claims she went over to his apartment to get an autograph.
After asking the Knicks in October to help her get the $68,000 from Porzingis, the woman emailed the Knicks a series of text messages that included Porzingis' invitation to visit his apartment the night of the alleged assault. Porzingis told her that he was "drunk," according to the texts. The woman agreed to come to his apartment, responding: "I'm not fancy at all. I'm in flip-flops and a night dress. I'm basic. ..."
"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' attorney, in a statement to ESPN, said he believes the document is "a forgery."
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TMZ Sports offered the following update on the investigation:
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … the alleged victim told cops Porzingis pinned her down on a bed in his guest room, penetrated her vagina with his penis and then got violent.
The woman told cops he hit her in the face several times, spit on her, called her “my bitch” and “my slave” and said he owned her. We’re told the accuser claims he stopped assaulting her as she was putting up a fight.
Porzingis' attorney, Roland G. Riopelle, said in a statement Saturday, "We are aware of the complaint that was made against Mr. Porzingis [on Thursday] and unequivocally deny the allegations."
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