Kofi Inkoom
Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has expressed that forward Miles Bridges, who is set to return to the team on Friday following a 30-game suspension for domestic violence charges in November 2022, will “have a significant role right away”
Clifford believes Bridges is prepared to play, given his consistent presence in practice and excellent physical condition.
“I think he’ll be ready to play. He’s in practice every day. So he’s been well organized when he’s there,” Clifford told reporters. “He’s in really good shape. He’s worked hard. I’ll be honest, we’ve been playing every other day.
However, Clifford hasn’t yet planned how to manage Bridges’ minutes in his first game of the season, as he’s currently focused on addressing the team’s existing issues, such as defensive lapses and inconsistent rebounding.
Bridges will become eligible to end his 30-game suspension this Friday when the Hornets face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Despite potential challenges in adjusting to the game’s pace after a year-long absence, Bridges is anticipated to return as a valuable asset, considering his remarkable performance in the 2021-22 season, where he averaged 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 49.1% in 80 games.