NBA suspends Miles Bridges 30 games for domestic violence, though actual missed games will be less
The NBA on Friday suspended restricted free-agent forward Miles Bridges 30 games without pay for a domestic violence incident involving the mother of his children.
However, because Bridges, 25, missed the entire 2022-23 season without pay, the league has credited him with 20 games served, and Bridges instead will miss the first 10 games in which he is eligible to play.
“The NBA conducted its own investigation into this matter, reviewing all available materials and interviewing numerous third-party witnesses, as well as the parties involved,” the league said in a news release. “The NBA also consulted with a group of domestic violence experts who provide the league with guidance in such cases. The 30-game suspension is based on all facts and circumstances of this matter and considers the conduct and its result, as well as the outcome of the criminal matter, among other factors.”
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In November, Bridges was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading no contest to one count of domestic violence, according to Los Angeles Superior Court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports. The incident happened on June 27.
Bridges entered a no contest plea to a felony charge of injuring a spouse, cohabitant or fellow parent in an act of domestic violence during his arraignment. In California, a no contest plea means the defendant accepts a conviction without admitting any guilt.
Bridges avoided jail time with the plea, but he was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service and undergo domestic violence and parenting classes during probation, according to the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse Clerk's Office. He was also prohibited from owning any guns or ammunition or any dangerous weapons, according to court documents.
Bridges was initially charged with three felony counts and pled not guilty to all three.
Bridges has spent his entire NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets, who drafted him with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2018 draft. He emerged as a solid player offensively and defensively, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists and shooting 49.1% from the field and 33.15 on 3-pointers in 2021-22.
He was a key figure in Charlotte’s youth movement and may end up re-signing with the Hornets in free agency after the season ends.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA suspends Miles Bridges 30 games for domestic violence incident
