Miles Bridges

2.1. Childhood

Bridges' father, Raymond, was a two-time basketball state champion at Flint Northern High School and introduced Miles to the game at the age of two. His sister, Tara Rushing, was also a significant figure in his childhood. Bridges attended middle school at Woodland Park Academy in Grand Blanc, Michigan. By age 12, he was practicing at a local YMCA with future high school teammates and coach Keith Gray, demonstrating an early commitment to basketball.

2.2. High School Career

As a freshman, Bridges played varsity basketball at Flint Southwestern Academy in his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Standing 20 ft ^{(6 m)} at 14 years old, he played as a center. He averaged 10 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks per game, leading his team to a 17-6 record and the regional semifinals. His performance earned him an athletic scholarship offer from Oakland University. He played alongside future George Mason signee Jaire Grayer and future Mississippi Valley commit Jovan Embry.

In July 2013, Bridges transferred to Huntington Prep School in Huntington, West Virginia. This decision was encouraged by former Flint Powers Catholic all-state guard Javontae Hawkins, who had also transferred to Huntington Prep, citing the need to escape violence and distractions in Flint for personal and athletic growth. As a sophomore, Bridges averaged 9.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 3.3 assists per game, contributing to the Irish's 29-5 overall record.

During his junior year, Bridges and Huntington Prep participated in the 2015 Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals Tournament at Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, Queens in New York City. On April 2, 2015, Huntington Prep defeated Jaylen Brown and #5 ranked Wheeler 73-70 in the quarterfinals. The following day, on April 3, Bridges recorded 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a 61-51 loss to #1 ranked Oak Hill Academy in the semi-finals. For the season, he averaged 15.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 blocks, and 2.3 steals per game, helping Huntington Prep achieve a school-record 31-3 record. He played alongside future NBA player Thomas Bryant during this period.

In the summer of 2015, Bridges attended the NBPA Top 100 Camp at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. As a senior, he averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 steals, leading Huntington Prep to a 25-11 record. In January 2016, Bridges was named a McDonald's All-American and participated in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game on March 30, 2016, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, where he contributed eight points, three rebounds, and two steals in a 114-107 loss to the West team. He also competed in the Jordan Brand Classic All-Star game.

3.1. Season Statistics

3.2. Major Awards and Accolades

Bridges received numerous awards and recognitions during his college career, highlighting his impact as a freshman and his overall performance.

4.1. NBA Draft and Signing

On June 21, 2018, Bridges was selected as the twelfth overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2018 NBA draft. However, he was immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the eleventh overall pick, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On July 2, Bridges officially signed a four-year contract with the Hornets, valued at 16.30 M USD.

4.2. Charlotte Hornets Tenure

Bridges participated in the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. On February 14, 2020, he won the Rising Stars Challenge MVP award for Team USA in Chicago, leading his team to a 151-131 victory over Team World.

Prior to the 2021-22 NBA season, Bridges declined a four-year contract extension offer from the Hornets worth 60.00 M USD. Despite this, he had a breakout season, with his average points per game exceeding 20 for the first time in his career. On November 20, 2021, Bridges scored a then-career-high 35 points, along with 10 rebounds, in a 115-105 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. On April 13, 2022, during the Hornets' 103-132 play-in tournament loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Bridges was ejected from the game and threw his mouthpiece at a 16-year-old Hawks fan. The NBA subsequently fined him 50.00 K USD for the incident.

In the 2022-23 offseason, the Hornets extended a qualifying offer to Bridges. On July 7, 2023, Bridges signed a qualifying offer, returning to the Hornets on a one-year contract. On November 17, 2023, Bridges returned to play following his suspension, scoring 17 points and grabbing five rebounds in a 130-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Three days later, on November 20, he contributed 14 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and a game-winning three-pointer in a 121-118 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics. On February 5, 2024, Bridges scored a career-high 41 points in a 124-118 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Two days later, he set a new career-high with 45 points, along with 8 rebounds and 7 assists, in a 123-117 loss to the Toronto Raptors. On July 14, 2024, Bridges re-signed with the Hornets.

5.1. Family

Miles Bridges has three children with his former partner, Mychelle Johnson.

5.2. Musical Career

Outside of basketball, Bridges is also involved in rap music, releasing tracks under the alias RTB MB. His discography includes several mixtapes and extended plays.

6.1. Domestic Violence Allegations and Legal Proceedings

On June 29, 2022, Bridges was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of felony domestic violence and was released on a 130.00 K USD bond. He was alleged to have assaulted Mychelle Johnson in front of their two children. According to Johnson's hospital report, which she shared publicly, she was an "adult victim of abuse by male partner" and sustained injuries including assault by strangulation, a brain concussion, a closed fracture of the nasal bone, a contusion, a rib, multiple bruises, and a neck muscle strain.

On July 19, Bridges was charged with one felony count of injuring a child's parent and two felony counts of child abuse. The following day, he pleaded no contest to all three charges at his arraignment. On November 3, he pleaded no contest to the felony domestic charge and was sentenced to three years of probation, with the other two charges being dismissed.

In October 2023, Bridges faced new charges for allegedly violating his probation and a protection order. These charges stemmed from an incident on October 6, where he reportedly threw billiard balls at Johnson's car, shattering her windshield while their children were inside. Bridges' current girlfriend was also alleged to have kicked the car and yelled at Johnson. Bridges surrendered to authorities on October 13 and was released after paying a 1.00 K USD bond. At the time of this incident, there was also an outstanding warrant for Bridges from January 2023 that had not yet been served.

6.2. NBA Suspension and Return

On April 14, 2023, the NBA suspended Miles Bridges for 30 games without pay due to the domestic violence incident involving Mychelle Johnson and their two children. The NBA conducted its own investigation into the charges, which occurred in mid-July and early November 2022. He returned to play on November 17, 2023, after serving the suspension.

7.1. NBA

8.1. Mixtapes