At Monday’s media day to kick off 2023-24 Houston Rockets training camp, general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka took questions on Kevin Porter Jr’s recent arrest for the first time.
Though he remains under contract for at least this season, Porter did not report with the team to camp, and his future with the organization and the broader NBA is very much in question. A league investigation is ongoing, as are the related criminal proceedings in New York, where Porter is due back in a Manhattan court on Oct. 16.
“The allegations against him are deeply troubling,” Stone said. “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. He has not been with the team or around the team since that time.”
Here’s a roundup of what we learned from Monday’s media day at Toyota Center. With Porter absent, training camp will begin Tuesday at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Rockets address Kevin Porter Jr. situation
Rafael Stone on KPJ:
"The allegations against him are deeply troubling. 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. He has not been with the team or around it since that time."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 2, 2023
Ime Udoka says there would have been an "open competition" between Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. for a starting spot, but that's obviously no longer the case.
Mentioned Cam Whitmore and Aaron Holiday as among the internal options to fill that role
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 2, 2023
"There weren't any issues like this that I was aware of. That's what I'll say," – #Rockets GM Rafael Stone on reports that they were other issues surrounding Kevin Porter Jr internally & with the culture around the team over the last couple seasons. @SportsTalk790
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) October 2, 2023
Stone adds Porter will not be at Rockets’ training camp or join the team during the preseason.
Didn’t elaborate further as Houston waits for an NBA ruling.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) October 2, 2023
Houston Rockets GM Rafael Stone says that he reached out to Kevin Porter Jr’s team and told them that he could not be a part of the team during media day nor training camp. His status with the team is probably done. #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 2, 2023
Kevin Porter Jr. won't return to Rockets in preseason, if ever https://t.co/ZjHw73g0Yc via @houstonchron
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 2, 2023
