Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was listed as out and not with the team for Monday’s game on the road against the Toronto Raptors due to personal reasons.
According to multiple reports, Bridges was denied entry into Canada because of his past legal issues. Charlotte coach Steve Clifford declined to specify whether Bridges was in Toronto or Canada, reiterating simply that he was not at the game Monday.
Bridges, 25, is serving three years of probation as part of a deal to avoid jail time after he was arrested in June 2022 and pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge for an incident involving the mother of his children. The NBA suspended him 30 games in April — although 20 games of the suspension were considered served in the 2022-23 season — and Bridges made his 2023-24 debut on Nov. 17.
His return came as he had a pending court date for allegedly violating a protective order connected with the incident. Authorities in North Carolina issued a criminal summons in October for Bridges that alleges misdemeanor child abuse and injury to personal property. Authorities additionally had an unserved arrest warrant for Bridges, which was first issued on Jan. 2, for violating the domestic violence protective order.
Bridges turned himself in days after the summons was issued and was released on a $1,000 bond.
Bridges, who spent four seasons in Charlotte before sitting out in 2022-23, signed a $7.9 million qualifying offer with the Hornets in July. A first-round pick in 2018 out of Michigan State, Bridges is averaging 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season for the 7-17 Hornets.
Center Nathan Mensah, who made his NBA debut Friday, was also listed as out for personal reasons. Clifford declined to specify why.
“The only thing I’m going to say is neither Miles nor Nate will be here with us tonight,” Clifford said. “And that’s all I’m gonna say.”
