Miles Bridges is encountering some trouble at the northern border.
Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer reported Monday that the Charlotte Hornets forward Bridges has been denied entry into Canada ahead of the team’s game on Monday night against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Bridges was reportedly prevented from crossing the border with the rest of the Hornets on Sunday night, leaving his status for the Raptors game in question. The Hornets are said however to be working on getting Bridges into Toronto before the contest.
Bridges hinted at the situation in a since-deleted post to his X page.
“Got denied entry into the 6,” Bridges wrote (“The 6” is a nickname for Toronto popularized by rapper Drake, who is a native of the city).
Miles Bridges tweeted, then deleted a post yesterday about being denied entry into Canada.
The Hornets play against the Raptors in Toronto tonight. pic.twitter.com/GVOM9cmGZy
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 18, 2023
Boone adds that the exact reason for Bridges being denied entry into Canada is unclear but that it may stem from his high-profile legal issues over the last year or so. Bridges was arrested in June of 2022 for an incident of alleged felony domestic violence and missed the entire 2022-23 season as a result. He eventually agreed to a notable plea deal in which he avoided prison time, paving the way for a return to the Hornets. The NBA still suspended Bridges for 30 games but gave him credit for 20 games served due to the season that he missed. Bridges has since completed his remaining 10-game suspension this season but was also arrested again in October for allegedly violating a protective order stemming from the original case.
In Canada, Boone notes, anyone with a criminal record can be denied entry into the country because of heightened enforcement. Many kinds of felony convinctions may make an individual inadmissible to enter Canada, no matter how long ago they took place. We also saw in recent years that pro athletes were being denied entry into Canada for a different reason.
Bridges, 25, has returned to a prominent role for the Hornets this season, especially in the extended injury absence of LaMelo Ball. He is averaging 19.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game through his first 14 contests back. Monday marks the first of two scheduled games this season for the Hornets in Toronto (they will also return on March 3).
