A woman is alleging that NBA star Kristaps Porzingis raped her in his luxury penthouse in New York City just hours after suffering a devastating knee injury.
The New York Police Department reportedly says that the woman, a neighbor of Porzingis whom he invited into his apartment, is credible.
She made the allegation against the former 7ft3in Knicks star on Thursday, according to the New York Post.
A source close to the investigation told the Post that police find the accuser ‘believable’ despite the fact that she waited more than a year to report the alleged rape.
But Porzingis is denying the allegations. Instead, he says he is the victim of a shakedown.
‘We are aware of the complaint that was made against Mr. Porzingis on Friday and unequivocally deny the allegations,’ according to a statement released by his lawyer, Roland G. Riopelle.
Kristaps Porzingis (seen above on March 26 in Dallas) allegedly raped a woman in his luxury New York City penthouse on February 7, 2018
The alleged rape took place at Porzingis’ penthouse apartment at 605 West 42nd Street in the Hell’s Kitchen section of Manhattan
Alleged rape happened hours after Porzingis suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, sidelining him for more than a season. He is seen above being helped off the court after his former team, the Knicks, lost to the Bucks on February 6, 2018 at Madison Square Garden
But Porzingis is denying the allegations. Instead, he says he is the victim of a shakedown. ‘We are aware of the complaint that was made against Mr. Porzingis on Friday and unequivocally deny the allegations,’ according to a statement released by his lawyer, Roland G. Riopelle
‘We made a formal referral to federal law enforcement on December 20th, 2018, based on the accuser’s extortionate demands.
‘We also alerted the National Basketball Association months ago and they are aware of the ongoing investigation of the accuser by federal law enforcement.
‘We cannot comment further on an ongoing federal investigation.
‘Please refer any questions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the National Basketball Association.’
The woman, who is in her 20s, reportedly admitted to police that she and Porzingis discussed a $68,000 hush money payment.
She alleges that Porzingis, 23, promised to pay her the money to cover her brother’s college tuition, but then reneged, the Post reported.
The woman alleges that Porzingis, her neighbor at the Sky building at 605 West 42nd Street in Hell’s Kitchen, invited her into his penthouse apartment just hours after the February 6, 2018 basketball game between the Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden.
During that game, Porzingis, the young Latvian star who was having a breakout third season in the NBA, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The interior of an apartment at the Sky building in Hell’s Kitchen is seen in the above photo
The above image shows a common area at the Sky luxury apartment complex in Hell’s Kitchen
The building is also home to an NBA-size regulation basketball court (as seen above)
The building also boasts three swimming pools (two of which are seen in the above image)
The injury has kept the star player sidelined to this day as he is not expected to return to action until next season.
The woman told police at the 10th Precinct stationhouse on Thursday that Porzingis stopped by her apartment at around 2am on February 7.
She said she accepted Porzingis’ invitation to spend time together at his apartment.
Police say that she alleged Porzingis held her down and raped her.
The investigation is being handled by the NYPD’s Special Victims Division.
Porzingis was recently traded from the Knicks to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs’ team owner, Mark Cuban, has been made aware of the allegations.
‘We have been instructed by federal authorities not to comment,’ Cuban told the Post.
The former Knicks star said that in the hours after his injury he, his two brothers, and his physiotherapist returned to his apartment and downed shots of tequila.
‘I think that night we got back home, we made four shots,’ his brother and agent Janis Porzingis said.
Porzingis is seen right alongside his brother, Martins Porzingis, in Kristaps’ penthouse apartment where the alleged rape took place. The photo above is dated January 27, 2017
Porzingis (left) is seen at his apartment in this photo dated November 6, 2017. The man on the right is his longtime physiotherapist, Manolo Valdivieso
‘I just said: “To a new beginning.”
‘We drink the shot and started the next day as a new beginning. That’s what we did.’
‘The shock moment. I would say lasted for a day and half.
‘When you know those things happen, you never think it’s going to happen to him.
‘It’s a shock. You can’t believe that’s happening actually.’
Porzingis reportedly paid $8,000 a month in rent to live at Sky, according to 6sqft.
The facilities inside the building include an NBA-size regulation basketball court, a number of gyms, three swimming pools, a café, yoga and cycling studios, a billiards lounge, and a spa.