Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has been denied entrance to Canada for an NBA game due to his past legal problems, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Hornets are currently working through the appropriate channels in hopes of gaining Bridges access into the country in time for Monday night’s tipoff against the Toronto Raptors, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Legal Hurdles Bar NBA’s Miles Bridges from Canada, Forcing Game Absence
Bridges is currently serving three years of probation after pleading no contest in a domestic violence case involving the mother of his two children back in June 2022. The woman accused Bridges of assaulting her in front of the children. To avoid jail time, Bridges reached a plea agreement and must now adhere to a 10-year criminal protection order, undergo weekly narcotics and marijuana testing, and provide restitution, as stated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Canada has DENIED Miles Bridges from entering their country due to his charges 😂.
–#milesbridges pic.twitter.com/72BXZDqK1i— 👽 👽 👽 (@NftsMediaa) December 17, 2023
In October, Bridges turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued for an alleged violation of the protection order. The warrant had initially been issued on January 2 but had not been served until October, just before the start of the NBA season.
Court documents reveal that Bridges “unlawfully” and “knowingly” violated the protection order by continually contacting the victim. The case is still pending, leaving Bridges in a precarious legal situation.
The timing of Bridges’ denied entry into Canada couldn’t be worse for the Hornets, who are already dealing with multiple injured players. Guard LaMelo Ball and center Mark Williams have already been ruled out, while Gordon Hayward is questionable due to a stomach virus. With Bridges now unable to join the team, the Hornets may be without four of their five starters as they aim to break a four-game losing streak.
Since his return from suspension earlier this season, Bridges has been a key contributor on the court, averaging 19.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 12 starts. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team, putting additional pressure on the remaining players to step up and fill the void.
The Hornets’ coaching staff and management will continue to work diligently to resolve the issue and secure Bridges’ entry into Canada for future games. However, the outcome of their efforts remains uncertain, and the team will have to adapt and find ways to win without one of their star players in the meantime.
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As the situation unfolds, the Hornets and their fans can only hope for a favorable resolution that allows Bridges to rejoin the team and contribute to their success on the court. Until then, the focus will be on overcoming adversity and finding ways to compete at a high level despite the challenging circumstances they currently face.