Ex-Knicks Star Kristaps Porzingis Accused Of Raping NYC Neighbor

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Kristaps Porzingis, the former New York Knicks star who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this year, has been accused of rape. The New York Post, citing anonymous police sources, reported that a woman told police Porzingis came home after suffering a major knee injury at Madison Square Garden last year and raped a neighbor. Porzingis had invited the woman into his luxury penthouse in the Sky building in Midtown West, the report said.

A police source told The Post the woman came forward Thursday and investigators deemed her allegation was credible.

On Saturday, Roland Riopelle, an attorney for Porzingis, acknowledged his client had been accused of rape, but told The Associated Press the NBA forward "unequivocally" denies the allegation. Riopelle said the rape allegation is part of an extortion attempt that is under investigation by the FBI.

Porzingis, who stands a towering 7-feet-3-inches, suffered the severe knee injury during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The neighbor, who reportedly lives in the same building, said the attack happened around 2 a.m. and that she was promised $68,000 in hush money that would go toward her brother's college tuition.

"We made a formal referral to federal law enforcement on December 20th, 2018, based on the accuser’s extortionate demands," Riopelle told AP in a statement.

Riopelle said the NBA has been notified of the allegations. The Knicks informed Dallas of the rape allegations on Jan. 31, league sources told ESPN. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told The Post the team is aware of the allegation was "instructed by federal authorities not to comment."