What Happened to Miles Emmanuel Bridges Sr.?
Miles Bridges is an American professional basketball player currently with the Phoenix Suns. His career has been marked by significant on-court performance, including being a key player for the Charlotte Hornets, but also by serious off-court legal issues related to domestic violence, which led to an NBA suspension and a plea of no contest to a felony charge in 2022. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in June 2026.
Quick Answer
Miles Bridges is currently a small forward/power forward for the Phoenix Suns, having been traded from the Charlotte Hornets in June 2026. His career has been significantly impacted by a domestic violence case in 2022, which resulted in a 30-game NBA suspension and a plea of no contest to a felony charge. After returning to play for the Hornets, he was a key offensive option before his trade to Phoenix, where he is expected to be a starting power forward and contribute to their defensive and physical identity.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Flint, Michigan
Miles Emmanuel Bridges Sr. was born in Flint, Michigan.
Drafted by Clippers, Traded to Hornets
Miles Bridges was selected 12th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA draft and immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
Wins Rising Stars Challenge MVP
Bridges won the MVP award for Team USA in the Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Arrested for Domestic Violence
Bridges was arrested in Los Angeles following an alleged assault of his former girlfriend and the mother of his two children.
Formally Charged with Felonies
Bridges was formally charged with one felony count of injuring a child's parent and two felony counts of child abuse.
Pleads No Contest, Receives Probation
Bridges pleaded no contest to the felony charge of injuring a child's parent and was sentenced to three years of probation, avoiding jail time.
NBA Suspends for 30 Games
The NBA announced a 30-game suspension for Bridges due to his personal conduct issue related to the domestic violence case.
Returns to NBA Play
After missing the entire 2022-23 season and serving his suspension, Bridges returned to play for the Charlotte Hornets.
Charges for Protective Order Violation Dropped
Criminal charges against Bridges for allegedly violating a domestic violence protective order in October 2023 were dropped due to inconsistent victim statements.
Re-signs with Charlotte Hornets
Bridges re-signed with the Charlotte Hornets on a three-year, $75 million contract.
Sets Career-High 46 Points
Bridges scored a career-high 46 points in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Traded to Phoenix Suns
Miles Bridges was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Phoenix Suns in a multi-player and draft pick deal.
Attends Suns Media Day
Bridges participated in the Phoenix Suns Media Day, discussing his new role and the team's upcoming season.
Suns Preseason Begins
The Phoenix Suns' preseason schedule, featuring Miles Bridges, tipped off against the Detroit Pistons.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Miles Emmanuel Bridges Sr. began his professional basketball career after being selected 12th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2018 NBA draft, though he was immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets. He quickly established himself as a versatile forward, participating in the 2019 Slam Dunk Contest and earning the Rising Stars Challenge MVP award in 2020. Bridges became a crucial offensive player for the Hornets, consistently improving his scoring and rebounding averages over his tenure.
However, Bridges' career faced a significant setback in June 2022 when he was arrested for alleged domestic violence. He was formally charged with one felony count of causing harm to a parent of a child and two felony counts of child abuse in July 2022. In November 2022, Bridges pleaded no contest to the felony charge of injuring a child's parent, receiving a sentence of three years probation, 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling, 52 weeks of parenting classes, 100 hours of community service, weekly narcotics testing, and a 10-year protective order. The other two felony charges were dropped.
The NBA subsequently suspended Bridges for 30 games in April 2023 due to his personal conduct issue. He missed the entire 2022-23 season and returned to play for the Hornets in November 2023. Despite the off-court issues, Bridges continued to perform on the court, re-signing with the Hornets in July 2024 on a three-year, $75 million contract and setting a new career-high of 46 points in March 2025.
In late 2023, while serving his NBA suspension, Bridges was accused of violating the protective order, but these charges were dropped in February 2024 due to inconsistent victim statements. By the 2025-26 season, Bridges remained a primary offensive option for Charlotte, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 77 games.
On June 28, 2026, Bridges was traded to the Phoenix Suns alongside a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick, in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick. Suns owner Mat Ishbia stated that Bridges was the team's "No. 1 target" this offseason, despite his history. At the Suns Media Day on September 28, 2026, Bridges expressed excitement about his new role, emphasizing his physicality and defensive versatility alongside players like Dillon Brooks. He is expected to slot in as the starting power forward for the Suns for the upcoming 2026-27 season, which began its preseason on October 5, 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Miles Emmanuel Bridges Sr. made different choices?