Author: Monojit Mandal
Miles Bridges, former Michigan State University basketball star, looks set to return to the NBA after a turbulent phase in his career. Bridges, who was suspended for the entire 2022-2023 season after being accused of beating his wife in front of their children last spring, recently revealed a significant development on social media.
Bridges used Snapchat over the weekend to post a photo of himself in a video call with none other than Michael Jordan, the renowned basketball player and owner of the Charlotte Hornets, the team he previously played for. This connection is crucial for Bridges, because every interaction with “His Airness” has a unique value for him.
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Bridges’ standout season as a professional player came in 2021-2022, when he averaged 20.2 points, 7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 80 games. This stellar performance set him up for a big payday during the free agency season that followed. Bridges could win a five-year contract worth up to 170 million dollars, according to speculation.
Bridges’ life took a turn for the worse in May 2022, when his wife accused him of assaulting her in front of their two young children. Bridges was charged with three felonies by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in relation to these allegations. Bridges later pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence charge in November and negotiated a deal with prosecutors, being spared jail time but sentenced to three years’ probation.
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Although initial rumors suggested that the Hornets were in contract negotiations with Bridges in December, the franchise eventually disputed those claims. Bridges was suspended for 30 games by the NBA in April as a result of the domestic violence incident. However, the league accepted that Bridges had already served 20 of those games, reducing his remaining punishment to 10 games upon his formal return to the NBA.
Bridges is a restricted free agent, which means the Charlotte Hornets have the right to match any offer he receives from other clubs. Negotiations between free agents and teams can begin on June 30, with formal signings starting on July 6, officially kicking off the NBA free agency.