Kevin Porter barred from Rockets since domestic violence arrest - ESPN

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets have told Kevin Porter Jr. that he cannot be with the team in any capacity in the wake of his domestic violence arrest last month.

Porter was arrested after an alleged attack on his former WNBA player girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick in a New York City hotel room Sept. 11. Prosecutors said that the attack left her with a fractured neck vertebra and a deep cut above her right eye.

The 23-year-old Porter has pleaded not guilty to felony assault and strangulation and is due back in court in Manhattan on Oct. 16.

«The allegations against him are deeply troubling,» Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said at the team's media day Monday. «Going back a few weeks, as soon as I heard the allegations, I informed his representatives that he could not be part of the Houston Rockets. They understood and he has not been with the team or around the team or had any interaction with the team since that time and will not be at media day today or in training camp.»

Stone said that aside from that, everything else related to Porter and his situation fall under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and will be handled by the league.

«What's left for the team to do is to evaluate the best steps for our organization that remain in compliance with the league domestic violence policy,» Stone said.

Porter signed a four-year, $82.5 million contract with the Rockets before last season and was expected to be a big part of the team as Houston looks to return to contention after several dreadful seasons. Stone was asked if he believes Porter will ever be part of the team again.

«I can't answer that and stay in compliance with the policy,» Stone said. «So I think this is now a league matter.»

Last year, Porter averaged