NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Front Row (L-R) – OG Anunoby, Dennis Smith, Malik Monk, Luke Kennard, Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, De’aaron Fox, Frank Ntilikina, Justin Jackson, Back Row (L-R) Bam Adebayo, Jonathan Isaac, Justin Patton, Lauri Markkanen, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, Zach Collins, Donovan Mitchell and TJ Leaf pose prior to the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Former Phoenix Suns guard Josh Jackson finds himself in a controversial civil suit.
The No. 4 pick in the 2017 draft has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a New York City hotel room after a Super Bowl party in February 2022. The civil case was filed last month in U.S. District Court, per Daniel Libit of Sportico, who clarified that no criminal charges have been filed.
Libit provided more information on the case.
“Jackson’s accuser, whose identity is concealed in court filings, claims that she initially went to the party because she was romantically interested in NBA player Andre Drummond, who co-hosted the party and who is not implicated in the woman’s allegations. Instead, she ended up leaving with Jackson and then later agreed to meet up with him at his hotel in the early morning hours, believing that Drummond was with him,” Libit wrote.
“The woman claims she was very intoxicated upon arriving at Jackson’s room at the New York Edition Hotel, at which point, the lawsuit says, he propositioned her for sex, offering her $1,500 while boasting that he had another $12 million in his bank account. The plaintiff says she rebuffed his request before laying down on the bed in the room and falling asleep.
“At some point later, the plaintiff alleges, she was awakened by Jackson attempting to forcibly have sex with her and tried to fight him off. The lawsuit says she left the hotel room, purchased an emergency contraceptive from a pharmacy, and took a train home where she showered.”
The unnamed woman also claimed that a pair of “imposing, hoodie-clad female individuals” later broke into her apartment in search of Jackson’s watch, which they claimed she had stolen from him. Those women allegedly physically assaulted and robbed the woman and were later charged with larceny and criminal trespassing.
The woman also reported the alleged rape to New York City police about two months later.
Jackson played five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, and Sacramento Kings. His best stretch of basketball was during the 2021-2020 season while playing in Detroit. In 65 games that season, which included 25 starts, Jackson averaged 13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
As of now, Jackson isn’t facing any criminal charges related to the incident.
