Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges was denied entry to Canada ahead of the team’s game against the Toronto Raptors, resulting in his exclusion from the lineup. The team’s attempts to reverse the decision were unsuccessful, and Bridges was officially ruled out shortly before the game.
Bridges hinted at the issue on Sunday when he posted a tweet, later deleted, stating, “Got denied in the 6.” The exact reason for the Canadian government’s decision remains unclear, but it is speculated that it may be related to Bridges’ legal issues. Charlotte Hornets forward
In June 2022, Bridges faced multiple felony charges of domestic violence, ultimately pleading no contest to the felony charge of injuring a child’s parent. He received three years of probation, 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling, parenting classes, and community service, along with other stipulations. The agreement also prohibited him from owning firearms and required no contact with the victim.
In April, the NBA suspended Bridges for 30 games, with 20 games considered served after Bridges missed the entire 2022-23 season as an unsigned free agent. He served the remaining 10 games at the beginning of this season after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Hornets in July.
Just before the start of the season, Miles Bridges faced additional legal issues, including multiple violations of a protective order. He turned himself in on October 13 and was released on bond related to a warrant from January that had not been served earlier. Additionally, he faced charges of child abuse and injury to personal property in connection with an incident where he is accused of threatening his former girlfriend and throwing pool balls at her car while their children were present. Originally set for a court appearance on November 13, the case has been rescheduled for February 20. These legal troubles may have contributed to the Canadian government’s decision to deny Bridges entry into the country.