Hornets rookie P.J. Hairston involved in pickup game altercation with high-schooler
Charlotte Hornets rookie P.J. Hairston has already faced a smattering of off-court issues during his young basketball-playing career.
Most of those issues, including a misdemeanor for marijuana possession, driving without a license, speeding, and the alleged receipt of impermissible benefits, surfaced while he was playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and led to the school declining to re-instate him for the 2013-14 season.
Hairston then opted to join the NBA D-League, and last month officially became the first D-Leaguer to be taken in the first round of the NBA Draft, when the Miami Heat took him (on behalf of Charlotte) with the 26th overall pick.
But Hairston has barely even had a whiff of the NBA and already finds himself in some evident trouble.
Hornets rookie PJ Hairston got into a minor altercation with a prep senior in a pickup game in Durham,NC,today his agent confirmed to Yahoo
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 7, 2014
Hairston punched Northern Durham High sr. forward Kentrell Barkley after the latter threw a punch first, Hairston's agent Juan Morrow said.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 7, 2014
Hornets say in a statement they are aware of rookie PJ Hairson's "incident," they're investigating it & have no further comment at this time
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 7, 2014
Probably not the way the young shooting guard, or his new team, hoped to see his career in Charlotte get started.
HEADLINES
- T-Wolves reach 1st West final in 20 years with comeback win vs. Nuggets
- Pacers eliminate Knicks in Game 7, will face Celtics in ECF
- Report: NBA execs may use 1st-rounder on Bronny to lure LeBron in free agency
- NBA finalizes conference finals schedule
- Nuggets' Murray will represent Canada at 2024 Olympics