Sources say that Hornets’ Miles Bridges was not allowed to enter Canada.
Miles Bridges, a forward for the Charlotte Hornets, was not allowed to enter Canada because of past legal issues, according to sources that spoke to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He missed Monday night’s 114–99 loss against the Toronto Raptors.
Bridges was not allowed to enter the country in Sunday after pleading not guilty to a crime charge of hurting a child’s parent. He was kicked off the team about an hour before the game because he was “not part of the team.”
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office says he has to follow a 10-year criminal protection order for the woman, get tested for drugs and pot every week, and pay her back.
“The only thing I’m going to say will be that neither Miles nor I will be here with us tonight,” Clifford stated.
“That’s all I’m gonna say.” When he talked to media before the game, Hornets coach Steve Clifford wouldn’t say why Bridges wasn’t there.
Bridges is on probation for three years after pleading “not guilty” to a domestic violence charge in June 2022.
The mother of his two children accused Bridges of attacking her in front of the children. By saying “not guilty,” Bridges avoided jail time.
People were given the order on January 2, but it wasn’t served until October, right before the NBA season.
Court papers say that Bridges “knowingly” and “unlawfully” broke the protection order and “continually called the victim.”
A person who did not want to be named said that Bridges was turned away at the border. The person spoke on the condition of secrecy because they weren’t allowed to talk about it in public.
When asked by reporters before Monday’s game, Hornets coach Steve Clifford wouldn’t say why Bridges wasn’t there.
Clifford said, “The only thing I’m going to say is that Miles and center Nathan Mensah from Ghana will not be here with us tonight.” “That’s all I have to say.”
Bridges is on probation for three years after pleading “not guilty” to a domestic violence charge in June 2022.
The mother of his two children accused Bridges in assaulting her in front of them. By saying “not guilty,” Bridges avoided jail time.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office says he has to follow a 10-year criminal protection plan for the woman, get tested for drugs and weed every week, and pay her back.
Rebecca Purdy, a spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency, said that they don’t talk about specific cases.
However, she did say that anyone wanting to enter the country must “demonstrate they meet the requirements to enter.”
According to Purdy, each case is looked at individually and based on the information that was available at the time of entry. He said this in an email to the AP.
“Being involved in criminal activity, human rights violations, organized crime, security, health, or economic hardship are some of the things that are taken into account when deciding if someone can come to Canada.”
Since Bridges missed all of last season, the NBA banned him for the first 10 games of this one. Since he came back from ban, he has started 12 games and averaged 19.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
There will be a big hole for the Hornets to fill for the second game in a row as Bridges is out.
They are trying to end a four-game losing run. The boss told everyone, “Everyone, get ready!”
Before their game against Philadelphia on Saturday, the Hornets were missing three starters: LaMelo Ball (right ankle), Gordon Hayward (illness), and Mark Williams (back).
They were also missing two important backups, P.J. Washington (left shoulder), and Cody Martin (left knee). When guard Terry Rozier got hit in the nose with an elbow in the third quarter, he was out for the game.
The Hornets lost 135-82 without those players, which was their worst loss in the team’s history. It has only won one of its last seven games, which was at home against Toronto on December 8.