Miles Bridges stepped up to the podium in the main press conference room of Spectrum Center for the first time in over a year on Tuesday morning, marking his first media availability since pleading no contest to domestic abuse charges stemming from an incident in June of 2022.
“First of all, I want to apologize to everybody for the pain and embarrassment that I caused to everyone, but especially my family,” said Bridges. “This year away, I’ve used it to prioritize going to therapy and becoming the best person I can be, someone that my family and everybody here can be proud of. I want to thank the Hornets organization and the NBA for giving me a second chance. A lot of people don’t get a second chance, and I want to use this second chance to prove to everybody that I’m the same kid that you drafted five years ago. I’m just happy to be back, and I can’t wait to get this year started.”
Away from the team for the entirety of last season while the legal process in Los Angeles ran its course, Bridges was ultimately suspended by the NBA for 30 games, 20 of which have already been served. He officially signed his one-year qualifying offer on July 7, meaning he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
“The decision to extend the qualifying offer took a lot of time to sort through, a lot of measured thought with ownership and people in the organization,” stated Hornets President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Mitch Kupchak, who was also in attendance. “Back in November, the district attorney in Los Angeles and Miles pleaded no contest to domestic abuse. There were conditions, and it’s my understanding that since November, Miles has been complying with the conditions that the district attorney in Los Angeles laid out.”
He added, “Also in the fall, the NBA began to conduct an investigation of what took place. That process took many months, but once again, the NBA is very thorough. We were involved in the process. Based on those two bodies (legal and NBA) and their investigations, our relationship with Miles that goes back over five years, talking to Miles this past year – whether it was ownership, myself or Coach Clifford – knowing Miles as we know him, him showing remorse and accountability and indicating to us that this would never happen again, as an organization we made a decision to extend a qualifying offer. The conversations that we’ve had over the past year, you have to make a judgment. Is this sincere remorse? Is this sincere accountability? It’s not something that is easy to judge. We took all those factors into consideration and ultimately decided to give Miles a second chance.”
For Bridges, much of his focus over the past year has revolved around bettering himself personally, while basketball was temporarily put on the backburner. He’s been undergoing therapy, which was something he referenced multiple times throughout the press conference.
“[Therapy] is just a step for me to get better every day, becoming a better person every day, someone that my kids can look up to, someone that my family can be proud of,” he said. “It’s been tough not playing basketball, but it’s also given me a chance to become a better person off the court. That’s my main focus, just becoming somebody that my family and the Hornets organization can be proud of and can trust again.”
As previously mentioned, Bridges still has 10 games to go in his suspension, which should roughly stretch through the first three weeks of the 2023-24 regular season schedule. Having been off the court for over 18 months when he finally does make his debut, Bridges is confident he’ll quickly get back to being the player he once was.
“I still have a feel for the game. I’m the same player, even better, than I was before. Staying in the gym and being here consistently is going to help me out. Being around my teammates and learning their games, I think that’s going to be big for me. I’ve talked to Coach Clifford and we’ve started building a relationship. I’m excited to play for him. He’s a great coach and he’s been in the game for a long time. I’m excited to learn from him and to keep building our relationship.”
Signing the qualifying offer puts an end to the immediate uncertainty of this situation, but a new chapter will soon begin for Bridges. In the coming weeks and months, he knows he must regain the trust of many in and around the organization, starting with his teammates, coaches, the front office, staff, fans, and the Charlotte community.
“I understand that people don’t think I deserve a second chance,” he said. “That's why I’m trying to take this year to prove to everybody the person that I am. I want to prove to people who Miles Bridges is, and that he’s not who people think he is. Being a leader in the locker room again, leading by example and doing the right thing. I’ll be around the community a lot. Not because I have to, but because I want to. Being away for the last year made me realize I wasn’t in the community like I should be. People know me and kids look up to me.”
While this situation and decision has rightfully taken a lot of necessary time to properly sort through, hopefully, today marks the start of a redemption story for Miles Bridges. He’s getting a second chance with the Hornets and now, it’s up to him to prove he deserves it.