The NBA announced Friday they suspended former Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges for 30 games after the league conducted its own internal investigation into Bridges’ domestic violence arrest on June 27, 2022.
Because Bridges did not play at all during the 2022-23 season, however, the NBA “deemed” 20 games of that suspension have already been served and he will only miss 10 games if he signs with another team.
Bridges was charged with multiple offenses on June 27, 2022. On November 3, 2022, Bridges entered a plea of no contest to a felony domestic violence charge while the other counts against him were dismissed. Bridges was sentenced to three years of probation.
Bridges, who is 25 years-of-age, was set to become a restricted free agent and sign a lucrative contract last offseason before his arrest. He ultimately did not sign a contract during the season despite ESPN reporting that he was discussing a possible new contract with the Hornets. Charlotte denied those reports. The Athletics’ Shams Charania reported that the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons were among the teams that were monitoring Bridges closely at the time but neither ultimately signed him to a contract.
Bridges, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Michigan State University, has spent his entire career in Charlotte with the Hornets. He is coming off his best season during the 2021-22 campaign, in which he averaged 20.2 points and seven rebounds per game and competed for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, which ultimately was awarded to Ja Morant. The Hornets went 27-55 in his absence this season.
Charlotte allowed Bridges’ qualifying offer to expire in December but can issue him a new qualifying offer this offseason to maintain his status as a restricted free agent. If the Hornets choose not to do so, he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
