NORTH CAROLINA – Miles Bridges, a forward for the Charlotte Hornets, issued an apology on Tuesday for “the pain and embarrassment” that the domestic abuse investigation that prevented him from playing last season caused.

Bridges promised to mend ties with teammates and get more involved in the Charlotte community in his first public speech since agreeing to a one-year, $7.9 million contract with the Hornets.

In November, he entered a plea of not guilty to a felony charge stemming from claims that he had physically abused the mother of his kids in front of them. The 25-year-old was given a three-year probationary period.

The NBA imposed a 30-game suspension on him earlier this offseason following a thorough investigation, but after taking into account the 20 games he had already served from his 82-game absence from last season, they ruled that he would only miss 10 games to begin the new season.

The re-signing of Bridges was approved unanimously by the Hornets’ new majority owners, Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, as well as outgoing majority owner Michael Jordan, according to general manager Mitch Kupchak.

The Los Angeles Police Department and NBA both conducted their own independent investigations into the matter, and the team’s five-year personal relationship with Bridges was also taken into consideration, according to Kupchak. Bridges played four seasons in Charlotte after being selected in the first round of the 2018 draft.

Kupchak acknowledged that choice might not be favorably received by all of his fans.

He recognizes that while his teammates are glad to see him return, he needs to win back some of their trust, Kupchak continued.

Bridges steered clear of discussing specifics, other than to remark that his relationship with his young children is solid and that he continues to go to counseling.

In the summer of last year, Bridges’ NBA career abruptly changed.

As a restricted free agent, Bridges was poised to agree to a multiyear deal worth more than $100 million after having a career year in 2021 to 2022, in which he averaged a team-high 20.2 points and seven rebounds. But just a few days before the start of free agency, the mother of his children published on her Instagram page gruesome images and accounts of alleged physical abuse by Bridges.

Days later, he was accused with three felonies related to domestic abuse.

Bridges never received the lucrative contract offer, and the NBA launched an inquiry as he sat out the entire previous season.

Bridges will have more options for his next stop after accepting the qualifying offer from the Hornets to become an unrestricted free agency next summer.

In 2021–22, Bridges had a breakout year, averaging a team-high 20.2 points and seven rebounds. As a restricted free agent, Bridges was set to receive a multiyear deal worth more than $100 million. The mother of his children, however, published graphic images and accounts of alleged physical abuse by Bridges just a few days before the start of free agency on her Instagram page.

Days later, he was accused of committing three felonies of domestic abuse.

Bridges did not play at all in the previous campaign while the NBA launched an inquiry. The lucrative contract offers never materialized.

Bridges may choose his next destination more freely by accepting the qualifying offer from the Hornets, which makes him eligible to become an unrestricted free agency next summer.