We all know the Hornets have a superstar on the rise in LaMelo Ball, but do they have an All-Star on the rise as well?
Miles Bridges is certainly playing like it.
The NBA announced yesterday, the former first round pick earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the first 7 days of the season. Miles averaged 25 points, 8 rebounds, and almost 3 steals per game in the Hornets’ 3-0 start. He scored 30 in two of those outings.
Miles has had an interesting career in Charlotte despite this just being his 4th season.
Believe it or not, he’s the longest tenured Hornet on the roster and trading for Miles was essentially the first official player transaction conducted by Mitch Kupchak as Charlotte’s GM.
For a while it was also his worst.
June 21st, 2018 on NBA draft night, Adam Silver announced the Charlotte Hornets would select Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th overall pick… Only to announce 5 minutes later that Mitch would be trading him to the Clippers, just one spot behind, in exchange for Miles Bridges, a 2020 2nd round pick, and a 2021 2nd rounder.
SGA would go on to make the All-Rookie team, serve as a blue-chip asset in a trade for Paul George, and average more than 20 a game with OKC on good efficiency.
Miles on the other hand was fine his rookie year with obvious flaws, but really struggled his sophomore campaign. James Borrego gave him more responsibility in year 1 of the rebuild and it seemed to take a toll. His efficiency was down, he was suffering frequent mental lapses defensively, and his 3 point shot never came around.
Last year with much more talent on the roster, Miles wasn’t asked to do too much in the first half of the season and his numbers went up.
It allowed him to shine once Gordon, Melo, Malik, and Devonte all missed time.
In the last month of the season, once Miles started consistently, he averaged 20 points a game on 50 percent shooting and 43 percent from three. He was close to reaching the 50/40/90 club at the end.
The Hornets decided not to hand Miles Bridges a contract extension by the October 18th deadline before the new year, an understandable move. But if he continues to play like this? An All-Star? That decision could come back to bite the organization.
