Miles Bridges legal case and NBA suspension

In June 2022 Miles Bridges was arrested and later reached a legal resolution that included a no-contest plea to a felony-related charge; the NBA reviewed the matter and on April 14, 2023 issued an official 30-game suspension without pay for Bridges, according to the league release [10]. The release clarified that 20 games were credited as served while Bridges was unsigned and the remaining games were conditional if he signed and played, creating a layered enforcement structure tied to his contract status [10]. Media and team statements at the time contextualized the suspension alongside legal developments and the league's broader personal-conduct policies [10][3]. Bridges' prior suspension and legal history were widely referenced in later coverage of the Feb. 9, 2026 bench-clearing melee because they provided a precedent for how the league addresses off-court and on-court misconduct by the same player [10][1].

Bridges' 2023 suspension matters within the Pistons–Hornets rivalry narrative because it established a disciplinary precedent for a prominent Hornets player who later figures into the 2026 on-court melee. Public and league scrutiny of Bridges' conduct in 2026 was influenced by the 2023 ruling, affecting perceptions of proportionality when the NBA assessed additional sanctions for Feb. 9 [10][1].

After the 2023 announcement Bridges' available games and contract status were altered by the suspension's crediting scheme; the Hornets organization and media tracked his reinstatement conditions and public statements. When he was suspended again for his role in the Feb. 9, 2026 fight, commentators and league officials referenced his 2023 case as part of a broader disciplinary record that informs enforcement decisions [10][3][1]. Bridges also issued public messages after the 2026 incident apologizing to Hornets fans and organization while defending teammate protection on social media [13].