Once known as one of the best of the short men playing pro basketball, the acclaim apparently didn’t apply to his zipper with Calvin Murphy being indicted on a number of charges of child sex abuse.
Houston- NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy was indicted Thursday in Houston on six counts of sexually abusing five of his daughters more than 10 years ago.
Murphy initially was charged March 29 after five daughters accused him of sexually abusing them between 1988 and 1991, when they ranged in age from 6 to 13.
Murphy, 55, has contended the allegations stem from a family battle over money, an explanation Assistant District Attorney Lance Long has dismissed.
Murphy remains free on $20,000 bail. If convicted, Murphy could receive five years to life in prison for the aggravated offenses and two to 20 years for the indecency violations. He also could be eligible for probation because he does not have a criminal history. “We have not had a chance to have our say. Now we will,” said Murphy.
The former NBA Superstar pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually assaulted five of his daughters more than a decade ago.
A tearful Murphy says he’s looking forward to his day in court.
“Calvin adamantly insists that he is innocent of these charges and is anxious to present his side to a jury at trial,” Murphy’s lawyer Rusty Hardin said.
Hardin said the indictment was expected and “it is important for everyone to remember that the grand jury has not heard from Calvin nor many witnesses on his behalf that insist these allegations are absolutely untrue.”
Murphy, a guard for the Rockets from 1970-83, has 14 children by nine women.
During his tenure with the team, he made nearly 90 percent of his free throws, including 78 straight in one stretch during the 1980-81 season when he set a record single-season percentage of .958. During that year, in 215 free throw attempts, he missed only nine.
The 5-foot-9 Murphy averaged 17.9 points and shot 89.2 percent from the line during his NBA career. He scored 17,949 points, a franchise high until Hakeem Olajuwon surpassed the total.