Hornets’ Miles Bridges loves wordplay in the booth, uses hobby to escape from basketball
Corner Miles Bridges for a nanosecond and strike up a conversation about his favorite hobby, the very thing that he loves only second to faith, family and basketball.
Ask the Charlotte Hornets’ forward who spits the best rap freestyle lyrics on the team and his answer is sure to get more than a few chuckles. Gust-busting laughter would then ensue. Mix in a couple of blank stares, sprinkle in a knee slap or two and you’re in business.
“Probably Gordon Hayward,” Bridges said. “Next time he comes up here, you have to ask him about that. See if he will rap for you.”
Few were buying that, however. Certainly not the head man on the bench.
“Gordon?” coach James Borrego said when Bridges’ words were relayed to him. “Is that true? I have no response.”
While Hayward’s mastery of the musical craft is somewhat disputed until publicly proven otherwise, Bridges’ skills on the microphone have been dully noted. He’s passionate about hip hop and put out several tracks during his four years in Charlotte, kicking things off in 2019 by joining forces with then-teammate Dwayne Bacon to make a CD. He’s sprinkled them in slowly since, the latest coming a few weeks ago when he dropped his latest project dubbed “Halftime.”
That follows in the shadows of the “Up the Score” mixtape he put together last year.
“It’s good to be able to have two things that you have fun with and do it at a competitive level,” Bridges said. “So during the summer I take rap kind of serious. Basketball is always my main profession, but I take it serious and it’s fun. It’s fun.”
LeBron James gave him a shout out on Instagram, tossing three fire emojis on the screen while listening to his tracks. LaMelo Ball said he thinks the music is hot. Even Borrego is impressed with Bridges’ metaphorical lyrics.
“He loves it, he’s passionate about it, right?” Borrego said. “I love it. I love that for him. He’s really invested just like he is in his craft. So as long as his No. 1 overall priority is basketball, I’m all for him. And he’s locked in right now.
“But I’ve listened to it. I’ve heard it. They played it out in the gym, and the guys get hyped. And Miles really gets hyped listening to it. I love it. I think he’s doing a great job. I didn’t think he could do that. I love it.”
Bridges’ most recent single dubbed “ESPN” is a collaboration with Terry Rozier. They are partners in rhyme, rapping over a beat with a catchy background tune similar to the “NBA on ESPN” jingle. There is even a video for the song, complete with expensive cars and the like.
The two connected over their affection for the specialized craft.
“That’s just a hobby that we both have outside of basketball, something we both enjoy,” Bridges said. “So when we are away from basketball ... we do basketball most of the day, most of the day. So we have time at night, time to make music and all that type of stuff. But our main focus is basketball. But that’s just something that we have fun with.”
When’s the next one dropping? Inquiring minds will have to wait for something definitive. Bridges is kind of busy preparing for the season at the moment. It goes to the backburner for the time being.
“I don’t know,” Bridges said. “I have to see how this project does. It’s doing pretty good, though, so yeah I might come out with one.”
Maybe he’ll feature Hayward on a track. Or at least a remix.
BET THAT
No way, Terry Rozier thought. Not happening.
Rozier was convinced he had James Bouknight precisely where he wanted him. Intent on pocketing some serious change from the rookie, Rozier decided to challenge him to a little wager. Except, the sum actually wasn’t all that minuscule.
See, leading into Bouknight’s debut as a pro against Oklahoma City, Rozier plucked down, apparently, more than a few greenbacks in a friendly gentleman’s bet. Rozier was convinced Bouknight wasn’t going to explode offensively in his first game and offered up a pretty good pay day if he did. There was a figure Rozier had dancing in his head and he decided to let Bouknight in on it.
The magic number?
“I told him if he get 20,” Rozier said, “I’ll give him some money.”
Bouknight happily accepted the challenge. He promptly went out and canned 7-of-13 attempts, which includes a 1-for-3 showing beyond the 3-point arc, and swished all five of his free throws. In 21 minutes. Add it up and it equated to 20 points. So yeah, he got broke off with that something, something.
A withdrawal from The Bank of Rozier capped off a memorable night.
“It just shows that we are out there having fun, trying to add fun to the game,” Bouknight said. “I’m not going to say how much it was, but it’s more than I’m used to betting.“
Rozier won’t be doubting the rook again for a while.
“He’s way smarter than I thought he was on the court,” he said. “He’s going to be good.”
FAMILY REUNION, SOUTH BEACH STYLE
For once, it will be slightly easier to decipher Cody Martin from his twin brother.
When the Hornets take on Miami at FTX Arena on Monday, an unusual sight will unfold: Cody and Caleb Martin on the court wearing different uniform colors, playing for opposing teams. The Heat signed Caleb Martin to a two-way deal last month following his August release from the Hornets. He got caught in a roster crunch when Kelly Oubre was signed.
Joined at the hip since birth, the two have been nearly inseparable throughout their basketball careers. They’ve typically suited up for the same team, probably forcing people to identify them with articles of clothing so they wouldn’t get confused.
They are as intertwined as it gets and this is an adjustment for both.
“But at the end of the day the biggest transition and difference for me is going to be off the court,” Martin said. “Because when we came in, we came in to work. I understand that that’s my brother and we’re twins and stuff like that. But when we come in to work, we come in to work. It don’t matter and he’s going to be straight. He’s going to be good. He’s continuing to work. I’ve seen him work and he’s continued to get better.”
Still, Martin is going to miss those trips to the Hornets’ training facility together. Hanging out. Breaking bread. Small things that were so commonplace for what seems like forever are now rarities.
“But that’s why I have my teammates and he ain’t nothing but a phone call away,” Martin said. “And we’ll adjust off that. And I think that’s what a lot of people are worried about, is that transition period. But if anything it makes me be in the gym even more. It takes my mind off stuff and that’s where I need to be.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
