Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. is facing serious allegations of assault and strangulation after his arrest in New York City on Monday. The charges stem from an incident in a hotel room where Porter allegedly attacked his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick. The Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC), a leading domestic violence victim advocacy group, is calling on the NBA to ban Porter in light of the allegations. HAWC believes that professional sports leagues must strengthen their domestic violence policies and hold offenders accountable.

According to prosecutors, Gondrezick suffered a fractured neck vertebra and a deep cut above her right eye during the alleged attack. However, Gondrezick's lawyer, Robert Hantman, stated that the statements attributed to her were not her own words. Hantman argued that if Porter had repeatedly struck Gondrezick, she would have sustained more severe injuries.

During Porter's arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzer described the incident as a "serious domestic violence case." Police found a hallway at the Millennium Hotel covered in blood after Gondrezick fled her room and called for help. Curzer also revealed that Porter has a history of abusing Gondrezick, including an incident where he intentionally drove his car into hers.

The NBA has yet to comment on the situation. Porter, who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2019 NBA Draft, has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Rockets. In his three seasons with Houston, he has averaged 17.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and six assists.

Gruesome details of the alleged attack have emerged, indicating that Gondrezick did not suffer a broken bone in her neck, as previously reported. Forensic pathologist Michael Baden, who reviewed the information, confirmed that Gondrezick has a congenital defect that was mistaken for a cracked vertebra. Her attorney expressed frustration over the exaggeration of the alleged strangulation, stating that Gondrezick denies being strangled.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver labeled the allegations as horrific but emphasized the need for a thorough investigation before making any conclusions. This is not the first time Porter has been accused of attacking Gondrezick, as he previously rammed his car into hers.

Porter was released on $100,000 bail and is required to return to court on October 16. The Rockets stated that they are currently gathering information regarding the matter and have no further comment at this time.

Domestic violence is a pressing issue, and organizations like HAWC are urging professional sports leagues to take stronger measures to address such cases and support survivors. The high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from complex trauma underscores the need for significant support for survivors to move forward.