Hornets forward Miles Bridges has been fined $50K by the league for throwing his mouthpiece into the spectator stands, which resulted in the mouthpiece striking a teenage fan, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
The incident occurred after Bridges received two technical fouls and was ejected during the fourth quarter of Charlotte’s 132-103 play-in tournament loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. Bridges was irritated by a heckler as he headed toward the locker room and responded by whipping his mouthpiece into the stands, which missed the heckler and instead hit a 16-year-old girl.
He expressed regret afterward and hopes to make amends with the fan he struck.
“I was upset about a call, a couple of calls really. I let my temper get the best of me. That was definitely the wrong thing to do,” Bridges said. ” … I was aiming for the guy that was screaming at me and it hit a little girl … I take full responsibility and will take any consequences the NBA gives me. … Hopefully, I can get in contact with the young lady, sincerely apologize and do something nice for her.”
50k man what a way to set the example…… guess hitting your fans is ok and minor. Fail for the NBA
50K for throwing a tiny piece of plastic is hardly minor. I’d say the punishment was fair and shows that what he did was not ok.
For what it’s worth, $50K is generally the maximum amount the NBA will fine a player. For any amount higher than that, the CBA allows the player to appeal the fine to an independent arbitrator.
Tossing? Glad you put “throwing” in the article because Bridges went Nolan Ryan on the fan and hurled a big time heater. Brushback pitch for sure. Chin Music.
He should be receiving a suspension.
No he shouldn’t.
For what?
Jesus it was a mouthpiece calm down y’all, dude made a mistake and wants to make up for it. Put down the pitch forks lol dramatic af
If that mouthpiece, thrown by a 230 pound man, at that close range, hits somebody in the eye… the intended target or (especially) an “innocent” bystander…. Jesus knows it’s more than just a mouthpiece.
Maybe that’s why he guided it to where it didn’t harm her physically. You think it didn’t bother her emotionally? It bothered me watching her get hit by a mouthpiece thrown by an athlete having a temper tantrum.
Just a mouthpiece.
You can always tell the people who didn’t really play.
I ain’t reading all that, good for you or I’m sorry that happened
What is this “guided it”?— It was a miss.
Yes, it was just a mouthpiece. Could probably be sold on ebay.
Calm down & leave Jesus out of your calculations.
$7 for us
The fan should be fined. Sports fans can be the worst.
Well, it’s not like Ronaldo hitting a teenager in a hand at destroying his mobile phone in a process, falling on the ground. This could end in some charges and the kid don’t even want to meet Ronaldo and have some free tour and a game on a stadium.
Throwing something at the crowd and aiming/throwing at someone at the crowd are 2 different things – I was half-expecting a 1-game suspension for Bridges, but 50K fine sounds okay.
Should be suspended. You can’t throw anything into stands. He could of damaged her eye. What if he blinded her. She should file a lawsuit against NBA and Miles. Act like you make 20 mill a yr.
Could of…
Could of.., sounds like could’ve in voice to text, short for “could have.”
We see “could of” so often it’s almost becoming part of the written prose.
The young lady should get the 50k, ‘something nice’ for her.