The Charlotte Hornets give Miles Bridges a second chance. Does he deserve it? | Opinion
Any conversation about Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges is, at its core, a conversation about second chances.
And after months of speculation, the Hornets have given him one, because they apparently believe he deserves it. The Hornets announced last week that they extended qualifying offers to Bridges and two other players, which Bridges signed over the weekend, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“Blessed to be back with the squad,” Bridges tweeted Sunday. “Let’s make some noise!!”
The Hornets didn’t confirm that news until Friday, saying in a statement that Bridges has “shown remorse, indicated that he has learned from this situation and expressed that it will not happen again.” In the same statement, Bridges publicly acknowledged the incident for the first time with an apology.
Still, it’s pretty hard to stomach, considering the gravity of his past actions. Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge last November following allegations that he assaulted his girlfriend in front of their two children. His girlfriend detailed the abuse in a series of images posted to Instagram shortly after his arrest in June 2022; a hospital report shown in the post indicated she had suffered a concussion, a broken nose, a rib contusion and bruising. The report, which also noted she’d been strangled, described her as an “adult victim of physical abuse by male partner.”
A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but it still results in a conviction. As part of the plea, Bridges avoided jail time but received three years’ probation. The agreement also requires him to complete a year’s worth of parenting classes and domestic violence counseling, plus 100 hours of community service.
Rumors that Bridges could return to the Hornets surfaced at the end of last year after an ESPN report said talks between Bridges and the Hornets were “gathering traction.” At the time, the Hornets disputed such reports, but it’s clear now that they never ruled out the possibility of him returning.
It should be noted that the most important person in this conversation — the mother of Bridges’ children and the woman he allegedly assaulted — believes he deserves a second chance. She has tweeted about the issue on multiple occasions, saying Bridges deserves the opportunity and “no hate toward the Hornets or him.”
But that doesn’t give anyone permission to excuse Bridges’ behavior, and even if it did, this is not only a conversation about Bridges. It’s about the kind of organization that the Hornets are choosing to be, and the enduring invincibility of powerful men who treat women poorly — a status quo that the Hornets are now upholding.
A reunion with Bridges may have been inevitable, but it didn’t have to be. Nothing is stopping the Hornets from declaring that there is certain behavior they simply will not tolerate — say, domestic violence — and distancing themselves from players who clearly violate those standards. That is, if sports were about morals. But this is about business, and it’s painfully clear that the Hornets are doing what they believe is necessary in order to succeed in the league.
If Miles Bridges were anyone but Miles Bridges, he likely would not receive the same treatment. People with felony convictions — including Bridges, if he claims residency here — do not have the right to vote in North Carolina until their probation ends. If they are convicted of a drug-related felony, they may be disqualified from receiving welfare. They can have trouble finding housing and employment, no matter how remorseful or deserving of forgiveness they may be.
That’s not to say that Bridges should be treated poorly, too. But it does reveal a certain double standard for those who possess wealth, fame and power. It’s hard to imagine an NBA team hiring someone with a violent felony conviction for, say, a job in the front office.
Bridges has been given a second chance that an ordinary person would probably not receive. His career will continue virtually unblemished, assuming he can still play at the level he did before his conviction. Whether or not he deserves it is a valid question, and Bridges himself said Friday that he understands why people are asking it. But whatever conclusion you arrive at, it speaks volumes about what the Hornets are willing to forgive, and the many protections afforded by stardom.
This story was originally published July 7, 2023 at 4:22 PM.
