Miles Bridges says he could be playing for Hornets by March

EAST LANSING,Mich. (AP) — Miles Bridges says he may be back intheNBAsoon, returning to play fortheCharlotte Hornets.

“It’s been along process,” Bridges told The Associated Press on Tuesday nightat halftime of Michigan State’s home game against No. 17 Indiana.“I might be back in March.”

Bridges, wholed Charlotte in scoring last season, has not played this seasonwhile under an NBA investigation.

He pleaded no contestthree months ago in Los Angeles to afelony count of injuring a child’s parent, agreeing to do so inexchange for three years probation and no jail time. Bridges alsohas to complete 52 weeks of parenting classes, 52 weeks of domesticviolence counseling and 100 hours of community service as part ofthe agreement. The charges stemmed from accusations that heassaulted his girlfriend in front of their two children in June,the Los Angeles County district attorney said.

Bridges mayface disciplinary action from the league.

Therestricted free agent spent his first four NBA seasons with theHornets and was set to cash in on averaging 20.2 points, sevenrebounds and 3.8 assists — all career highs — until his future withthe team and in the league was put in doubt.

Hornetsgeneral manager Mitch Kupchak, earlier this month, offered littlein the way of the team’s plans with Bridges moving forward.

“The NBA isconducting an investigation and I don’t know when that is going toend,” Kupchak said. “When it ends, we’ll have more information andwe’ll go from there. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what kind ofimpact that had on our team this year.”

Bridges, whois from Flint, Michigan, averaged 17 points over two seasons withthe Spartans before entering the NBA in 2018.