Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges is facing an arrest warrant for violating a protective order.
The warrant was issued in January, but Bridges has not yet been served. The victim is his longtime girlfriend, whose protective order he violated by smashing her windshield.
Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony charge of injuring a child’s parent in November 2022, and was sentenced to three years of probation and a 10-year criminal protective order. He was also ordered to take weekly narcotics and marijuana tests.
After Charlotte signed Bridges to a one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer this offseason, he apologized for the “pain and embarrassment” the charge caused his family and others. Prior to that, he had been a restricted free agent for the Hornets since June 2022, when he had been expected to negotiate for a $173 million maximum deal over five years.
“A lot of people don’t get a second chance, and I want to use this second chance to prove to everyone that I’m the same kid you drafted five years ago,” he said. Bridges stated that he was “grateful” to have a second chance to play.
Netizens had mixed reactions to his statement as other players who found themselves in similar predicaments had other outcomes. Other’s are rooting for a second chance for the prolific forward to prove he can prioritize his career.
Bridges did not play during the 2022-23 season, but the NBA factored that into its punishment. He was suspended for 30 games, but only needs to sit out 10 of them in the 2023-24 campaign because he received credit for 20 games for missing last season.
Bridges’ last appearance in an NBA game was in April 2022. In his last 10 games, He averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists with a FG% higher than 50. For a forward as gifted as he is, a second chance will best for all parties involved.
image source: NBA.com