Adam Silver defended the decision by the NBA to suspend Miles Bridges for 30 games with a 20-game credit applied to this past season in which he was without a contract.

Bridges was arrested in June when he was accused of hitting his girlfriend in front of their children. Bridges pled no contest to a felony domestic violence charge.

On Tuesday, Silver said the league and Bridges had a “mutual agreement” that he would not play during the 22-23 season.

"The process (with Bridges) was that we worked with his representatives and the players association that he sat out the entire season," Silver said. "And so we felt, on the balance, that because he had sat out an entire season and not been paid for an entire season, that we thought in fairness that would give him partial credit, I think, for having sat out that season."

Bridges will lose 30 games of pay next season, even though his suspension will only keep him out of 10 games if he signs a new contract. Players are typically credited for games only when they are eligible and available to play.

Bridges’s punishment has been criticized by some reporters and by fans on social media.

The NBA is suspending Miles Bridges for 30 games with 20 games considered already served. 

Bridges was arrested and charged with multiple domestic violence counts on June 27, 2022. Bridges entered a plea of no contest to a felony domestic violence charge on November 3, 2022 and the remaining counts against him were dismissed.

Bridges will serve the remaining 10 games at the start of the 23-24 season.

Bridges did not sign a contract with any team for the 22-23 season.

LaMelo Ball will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason following a disappointing third season with the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets were in the play-in in 2021 and 2022, but finished with the NBA's fourth worst record this season.

When asked Monday about his long-term future in Charlotte, Ball said he "plays it by the day."

"I love it here," said Ball, who is from California. "I can't really tell the future. We'll just see how it goes and go from there."

"He badly wants to win," Clifford said of Ball. "... When you're at his level, there are certain expectations. You're going to be compared to the other point guards his age that have had not incredible playoff success but have had some.

"It's important to his career."

As for Clifford's comments about it being critical for the Hornets to start winning to keep him here, Ball replied: "For sure. The main thing is winning. Life if better when you win."

The Hornets have a projected $39 million in salary cap space entering free agency and will also have a high lottery pick.