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NBA players, like other pro athletes, get caught up in scandals in their personal lives. Harsh accusations can end up derailing someone's career and should not be taken lightly. While some have been caught committing terrible crimes, others have been accused and later acquitted.
Three NBA players who were accused of sexual assault but acquitted later:
#1, Rick Brunson
Among the list of former NBA players to be acquitted of sexual assault charges is Rick Brunson. He is the father of New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson and is an assistant coach for the team.
Brunson played in the league for nine years between 1997 and 2006. In that span, he suited up for eight different franchises.
In 2014, Brunson was accused of sexually assaulting a massage therapist at a fitness center in Illinois. However, the charges were lated dropped after there was not enough proof provided.
#2, Mateen Cleaves
Another instance of an NBA player getting sexual assault charges dropped is Mateen Cleaves. He was a lottery pick in 2000, but his career only lasted six seasons.
During his time in the league, Cleaves averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 assists. His journey began with the Detroit Pistons, and he also played for the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics.
Despite there being a video of the encounter between Cleaves and his accuser, he was acquitted of all charges. Surveillance footage was played in court from the hotel the two were at during the incident, but the jury did not find Cleaves guilty.
#3, Derrick Rose
One of the more recent instances of an NBA player being charged with sexual assault is Derrick Rose. Early in his career, the former MVP and a friend of his were accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman.
The trial lasted two weeks, but Rose and his friend were eventually found not guilty. In conclusion, the jury felt the accuser was targeting Rose because of his wealth. She was asking for over $21 million in damages.
Rose has fought tirelessly on and off the court to keep his career alive and is still going. Despite everything that has happened to him, he continues to hang around in the league. Rose has appeared in 26 games for the New York Knicks this season, averaging 5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 1.8 apg.
