NBA free agent Miles Bridges pleads no contest to domestic violence, avoids jail time
NBA restricted free agent Miles Bridges pleaded no contest Thursday in Los Angeles to one felony count of injuring a child's parent, agreeing to do so in exchange for three years probation and no jail time.
Bridges will also have to complete 52 weeks of parenting classes, 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and 100 hours of community service as part of the agreement. He had been facing three felony charges — the one he pleaded no contest to, and two others of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.
The charges stemmed from accusations that he assaulted his girlfriend in front of their two children in June, the Los Angeles County district attorney said.
"We believe this resolution was the best avenue to hold Mr. Bridges accountable for his conduct," the district attorney's office said. "We also understand through the victim's representatives that the victim wanted an expedited resolution of the case. The victim and her representatives were consulted about the proposed resolution and agreed with the outcome of the case."
Bridges also must adhere to a 10-year criminal protective order for the victim, weekly narcotics and marijuana testing and restitution for the victim, the district attorney's office said. A restitution hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13.
The charges against Bridges came just before this summer's free agency period started. Bridges was coming off a season for the Charlotte Hornets where he averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists — all career-bests, numbers that likely would have earned him a major payday.
Just one day prior to his June 29 arrest, the Hornets had extended Bridges a qualifying offer, which allows them a chance to match any offer sheet made by another team, making him a restricted free agent. Bridges was drafted by the Hornets in 2018 and has spent his entire four-year NBA career with the franchise. He has not played this season.
His NBA future, at least in the short term, remains most unclear. It's possible that he still may face disciplinary action from the league, and it would be difficult for some teams to consider signing Bridges given that the season has started and rosters are full in many cases.