NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defends Bridges Suspension

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday defended the unusual disciplinary approach of forward Miles Bridges, who has been suspended for 30 games for domestic violence but will miss only 10 games in which he is eligible to play.

Bridges, 25, was a restricted free agent but did not sign with a team or play during the 2022-23 season following his California arrest in June when he was accused of punching his girlfriend in front of their children. He pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge in November, but it wasn’t until April 14, after a league investigation, that the NBA announced his sentence: a 30-game suspension, with 20-game credit for not playing. this season. Typically, players are only credited for games if they are eligible and available to play.

On Tuesday, Silver said the league and Bridges had a “mutual understanding” that he would not play during the 2022/23 season – although Silver was careful to say Bridges was not suspended. Silver said crediting Bridges for the penalty for 20 games seemed the right thing to do, as he missed a year of income and NBA play. The league also confirmed that Bridges would lose 30 games, even though his suspension would keep him from just 10 if he signed a new contract.

But if Bridges’ absence this season was to be some form of punishment, it didn’t seem to be: in December, he joked with players in Los Angeles at a game between the Lakers and Charlotte Hornets, for whom he played last season. And in February he told The associated press that he would return to play in March. He was sentenced to one year of counseling and community service. Bridges representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bridges’ sentence has been criticized by some reporters and by fans on social media.

The fairness and accountability of the NBA’s disciplinary process has been called into question this season after a series of incidents in which players received different penalties for similar infractions, or were punished more severely than they or their peers felt was fair. League officials said they consider several factors when imposing sentences, including a person’s past behavior, which could lead to different outcomes.