Hornets’ Miles Bridges ‘locked in on basketball’ as he readies for return to NBA
If there’s any doubt about Miles Bridges’ level of anticipation leading into his impending return, the Charlotte Hornets forward made it perfectly clear in the first few words that rolled off his tongue Thursday afternoon.
“It feels good,” Bridges said after practice. “I’ve waited what, 588 days? So, I’m just excited. I feel like the first day of school when I was a kid. So, I’m just happy to get back.”
Which is why things are already bubbling up inside Bridges as he ticks down the final seconds until he peels off his warmups and takes the floor against Milwaukee in an NBA in-season tournament matchup at Spectrum Center on Friday night. He’s experiencing a flurry of emotions.
“A little bit of everything,” Bridges said. “I wouldn’t say nervous because I’ve been doing this my whole life. I would say anxious because basketball has been my sanctuary, and for me to be away from it for a year, it’s kind of been hard on me. So, I’m just happy to be back.”
Bridges’ suspension officially wrapped up following Tuesday’s loss to Miami. He was credited with “time served” for the first 20 games of his suspension after sitting out the entire 2022-23 season, and had to miss the first 10 games of the 2023-24 campaign.
So, nearly a year after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge of injuring a child’s parent and being sentenced to three years of probation without jail time, Bridges is set to play for the Hornets (3-7) in his first meaningful NBA action. It also comes the same week as his most recent scheduled court appearance.
Bridges’ pending court case, which involves an alleged violation of a domestic violence protective order, was continued for three months on Monday, and he has a new court date of Feb. 20. According to a criminal summons issued in October, Bridges is accused of throwing billiard balls at a vehicle while children were inside, smashing the windshield, and leaving dents in the car.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the Hornets said they are “comfortable” with the 25-year-old being a part of the team.
“Miles Bridges is eligible to return to our active roster on Friday after serving his NBA suspension,” the statement read. “We are comfortable with Miles returning to play based on our current understanding of the facts of the recent allegations and remain in contact with the NBA as that matter proceeds through the court process.”
Asked how he’s dealt with the situation as he’s prepared over the past few weeks, Bridges said: “It’s under review right now, so I can’t really talk about that. But on the court, though, I’ve been doing good, conditioning, putting up shots, working with my teammates, getting accustomed to how we play.”
Since training camp began last month, Bridges has practiced with the team daily, typically staying later than the regular rotation players to get in extra conditioning work. He’s been able to travel and participate in game day morning shootaround sessions, but had to be out of the building at least two hours before tipoff.
When Bridges takes the floor against the Bucks, it will mark his first NBA game action in 19 months. The last time he was seen in a Hornets uniform was in Charlotte’s play-in tournament loss to Atlanta on April 13, 2022 — the final game of then-coach James Borrego’s tenure — when he trudged off after getting ejected and angrily fired his mouthpiece into the stands, an action he regretted and took responsibility for.
“I know a lot of people feel a way about me being back and I understand that,” Bridges said, “and like I said before, I have to gain their trust back. So, I’m just going out there and looking to play. I feel like if I can get us some more wins, I feel like people’s perspective will change a little bit on me. But I’m just trying to get out there and help the team as much as I can and I miss playing against these fans.”
Early on, it likely won’t be a smooth transition — and that’s not just referring to Bridges adjusting to a likely mixed crowd reaction at home. He probably won’t be able to play a hefty chunk of minutes during his first few games because there’s no simulating the speed at this level.
Building his stamina is going to be a steady process.
“Well, he’s worked really hard,” coach Steve Clifford said. “You just don’t know right now because it’s not easy not playing a game for this length of time. So, it may take a little bit. But he’s done everything you can do to give himself a good chance to play well early. He’s gotten in really good shape, he’s done a lot extra and he’s worked very hard.”
Still, expecting Bridges to play at an elite level from the outset is unrealistic.
“Look at Melo,” Clifford said, referring to star guard LaMelo Ball. “Melo only last year got to play in, whatever 35 games, 36. And you can see he’s just now getting into rhythm. So, I think for any of these guys, when you miss time like that it’s definitely a factor.”
Already banged up three weeks into the season and loaded with injuries to five rotation players — Gordon Hayward (hamstring) and Brandon Miller practiced Thursday after sitting out Tuesday — the Hornets are eager to add Bridges into the fold and possibly give them a boost in areas they’re lacking. He has his eye on one intangible in particular.
“Just toughness,” Bridges said. “A lot of teams have been trying to punk us, especially on the rebounding. Mark (Williams) and Nick (Richards), PJ (Washibgton) and Melo. But we’ve got to get better on the boards. Even Brandon (Miller), he’s been doing a good job. But we just need a little bit more toughness out there.”
Fewer off-the-court headlines would be beneficial, too, and Bridges knows there’s only one way to ensure he’s not casting any more negativity on the franchise.
“Just stay locked in on basketball,” Bridges said. “I’ve been locked in on basketball as much as I can. I can’t control different stuff that happens. I can control what I can control, I can’t control what comes out about me. I just can control what I do on the court. I just want to go home and be with my kids and my dog, and that’s all I can do.”
