Miles Bridges, the talented forward for the Charlotte Hornets, is set to return to the NBA after serving a 10-game suspension for his involvement in a domestic violence case. This news has sparked controversy among NBA fans.
The incident which led to his suspension, involved allegations of domestic violence against his girlfriend, Mychelle Johnson. After the Hornets made an official statement regarding Bridges’ return, many fans expressed their disapproval.
The Hornets have released a statement on Miles Bridges:
“Miles Bridges is eligible to return to our
active roster on Friday after serving his
NBA suspension. We are comfortable
with Miles returning to play based on our current understanding of the facts of the recent allegations… pic.twitter.com/dWnsCiHJQu— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 16, 2023
One fan stated, “Should never be able to step foot onto an NBA court ever again.” Another fan added, “He should be in jail” Another wrote, “he should be in federal prison” This backlash shows the level of hate fans have towards Bridges.
Bridges has faced multiple legal issues in recent years, including assault, child abuse, and property damage allegations. He was arrested in June 2022 for assaulting the mother of his children, Bridges was released on a $30,000 bond and initially pleaded not guilty. Later, he received a sentence of three years probation without jail time.
In July, Bridges publicly apologized, expressing regret and committing to attend therapy. But, his legal troubles continued. In October 2023, Bridges faced new charges, including child abuse and property damage, after allegedly throwing pool balls at his ex-girlfriend’s car with his children inside and violating a protective order. He surrendered to police in mid-October after an arrest warrant was served and was released on a $1,000 bond.
Miles Bridges will have a significant role upon his return
The Hornets’ management and Miles Bridges’ teammates have shown support for his return. Head coach Steve Clifford has indicated that Bridges will play a “significant role” in the team immediately upon his return.
“I think he’ll be ready to play. He’s in practice every day. So he’s been well organized when he’s there,” Clifford said. “He’s in really good shape. He’s worked hard. I’ll be honest, we’ve been playing every other day.”
Steve Clifford on how much playing time Miles Bridges is expected to get tomorrow.
“He’s going to be a big part of things, for sure.”
👀 #LetsFly35 pic.twitter.com/plAOQxhPSF
— /r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) November 16, 2023
Clifford added, “That’s under worry about tomorrow’s problems tomorrow, right now our problems are: we don’t run back on defense, we don’t block out all the time, so I’ve been spending all my time on that. But he [Bridges] will have a significant role right away.”
Clifford emphasized Bridges’ dedication and hard work during practices, describing him as a “team-first guy” whose presence is loved by his teammates. Clifford stated the need to focus on immediate team challenges but expressed confidence in Bridges’ readiness and fitness for the game.
Miles Bridges could make his return on Friday vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Miles Bridges, after a long break from playing since April 2022 due to the domestic violence investigation and subsequent suspension, is expected to make his much-anticipated return against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Charlotte Hornets, currently struggling with a 3-7 record, hope that Bridges’ return will provide a much-needed push.
Hornets head coach Steve Clifford won’t say if Miles Bridges will start but he expects him to play quite a bit against Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/z2emHQhvjT
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) November 16, 2023
In the 2021-2022 season, Bridges averaged an impressive 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. His return marks a turning point in his professional career, as he tries to move past the controversies and focus on contributing to his team’s success on the court.