The NBA fined Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges $50,000 for striking a fan with his mouthpiece during Wednesday's play-in loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the league announced.
Bridges was heading toward the locker room after being ejected with two quick technical fouls just before the midway mark of the fourth quarter. However, as he approached the tunnel, he appeared to take exception with a fan by the railing and threw his mouthpiece in their direction. Instead, he hit a separate young spectator standing nearby in the face.
Somebody get me in contact with the young lady. That’s unacceptable. https://t.co/MlLZjMgcBF
— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) April 14, 2022
Bridges expressed remorse for the incident postgame, saying he hoped to connect with the young woman in order to apologize personally. Both Bridges and the Hornets have attempted to reach out to the girl but have yet to hear back, according to The Charlotte Observer's Rod Boone.
Bridges added Wednesday that he was prepared to accept any punishment handed down from the league for the incident.
The $50,000 fine is the maximum the NBA can levy against a player under the current collective bargaining agreement.
