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FILE – Charlotte Hornets ahead Miles Bridges strikes upcourt in the course of the staff’s NBA basketball sport towards the Denver Nuggets, March 28, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. Bridges apologized Tuesday, July 18, 2023, for his function in a home violence incident final summer time, and vowed to rebuild relationships with teammates and develop into extra energetic within the Charlotte neighborhood. (AP Picture/Rusty Jones, File)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Hornets ahead Miles Bridges apologized Tuesday for “the ache and embarrassment” brought on by the home violence investigation that saved him out of the league final season.
Bridges, talking publicly for the primary time since signing a one-year, $7.9 million contract to return to the Hornets, vowed to rebuild relationships with teammates and develop into extra energetic within the Charlotte neighborhood.
He pleaded no contest in November to a felony cost that stemmed from accusations that he assaulted the mom of his kids in entrance of them. The 25-year-old was sentenced to 3 years of probation.
“I wish to apologize to everyone for the ache and embarrassment that I’ve brought about everybody, particularly my household,” Bridges mentioned. “This yr away I’ve used to prioritize going to remedy and changing into the very best particular person I may be — somebody that my household and everybody right here may be happy with.”
Following a prolonged investigation, the NBA handed down a 30-game suspension earlier this offseason, however decided that he’ll solely miss 10 video games to begin the upcoming season after giving him credit score for 20 video games served after sitting out 82 video games final season.
Bridges thanked the Hornets group and the NBA for giving him a second likelihood, including that “lots of people don’t get a second likelihood, and I wish to use this second likelihood to show to everybody that I’m the identical child you drafted 5 years in the past.”
Hornets common supervisor Mitch Kupchak mentioned outgoing majority proprietor Michael Jordan and incoming homeowners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall gave unanimous approval to re-sign Bridges.
Kupchak mentioned that call was primarily based on separate investigations by the NBA and the Los Angeles Police Division, in addition to the staff’s private five-year relationship with Bridges. Bridges was drafted within the first spherical in 2018 and has performed 4 seasons in Charlotte.
“It’s important to make a judgment, proper?” Kupchak mentioned. “Is that this honest regret? Is that this honest accountability? It isn’t one thing that’s straightforward to guage. We took all of these elements into consideration and finally gave him a second likelihood.”
Kupchak mentioned he realizes that call might not sit properly with some followers.
“Clearly it’s a polarizing subject,” Kupchak mentioned. “All people might not agree. It’s a tricky scenario to be in.”
Bridges mentioned he understands he’ll must regain the belief of everybody concerned, from followers to teammates to members of the Hornets group.
“Sure, I perceive that some folks don’t suppose I deserve a second likelihood,” Bridges mentioned. “That’s why I’m attempting to make use of this yr to show to everyone the individual that I’m. Who’s Miles Bridges? It’s not what folks suppose he’s.”
Added Kupchak: “He understands that although his teammates are glad to have him again, there may be some belief that must be earned again.”
Bridges declined to get into specifics, aside from to say he continues to attend remedy and has an excellent relationship together with his younger kids.
Bridges’ NBA profession took an abrupt flip final summer time.
After a profession season in 2021-22 by which he averaged a team-high 20.2 factors and 7 rebounds, Bridges appeared prone to signal a multiyear contract price greater than $100 million as a restricted free agent. However simply days earlier than the beginning of free company the mom of his kids posted graphic pictures and descriptions of alleged bodily abuse by Bridges on her Instagram web page.
He was charged with three counts of felony home violence days later.
The large contract supply by no means got here, and Bridges didn’t play in any respect final season because the NBA opened an investigation.
By signing the Hornets’ qualifying supply, Bridges is eligible to develop into an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer time giving him extra flexibility in his subsequent vacation spot.
The Hornets will nonetheless have Bridges’ Chook rights, which provides them a aggressive benefit over different groups due to their capability to supply him an extended contract price extra money. Bridges mentioned Tuesday he’d like to stay with the Hornets.
However Kupchak mentioned that can be a dialogue for one more day.
“We must wait to see how that performs out,” Kupchak mentioned. “From a basketball viewpoint, placing apart the intense nature of what came about, we’re excited to have him again. He had his finest yr ever two years in the past. No matter it’s we’ve got to cope with a yr from now, we are going to cope with it a yr from now.”
Charlotte lately chosen ahead Brandon Miller from Alabama with the No. 2 choose within the NBA draft and he may function an eventual alternative for Bridges.
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