• Austin Rivers criticized the Charlotte Hornets for surrounding LaMelo Ball with ‘troubled youth’
• Miles Bridges was not happy about the comments
• Bridges was charged with one felony count of injuring a child’s parent and two felony counts of child abuse last offseason
Miles Bridges wasn’t happy to see that Austin Rivers had criticized the Hornets for building around LaMelo Ball by surrounding the All-Star with ‘troubled youth’. This was a shot at many players, including Bridges, who spent the last season out of the NBA due to domestic violence charges. Bridges responded with a Snapchat story and criticized Rivers.
“Y’all hoopers get on these podcasts and talk like y’all really like that. Speaking on other teams like y’all know what’s going on and most the people talking the most sh*t don’t play at all. We gone see about all that this year on me.”

The Hornets have had a hard time building around LaMelo, with the last offseason driving home what Rivers is saying. Players like James Bouknight and Montrezl Harrell also had trouble with the law for different reasons, along with Bridges.
Kai Jones also concerned fans this summer with erratic tweeting and allegations of drug use, while No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller spent part of last season in college as an accessory in a murder trial.
Austin Rivers Responds To Miles Bridges
Soon after Bridges’ made his comments public, Rivers decided to respond by making a post on Twitter/X.
“Nah, this can’t be about me. I’ve gotten good minutes on every team I have played on, with the exception of last year. Situation matters and I stand by what I said about Melo… Straight up! He needs pieces around him with high character. Stop worrying about me and go be one again.”
Nah this can’t be about me 😂. I’ve gotten good minutes on every team I have played on, with exception of last year. Situation matters..and I stand by what I said about Melo..straight up! He needs pieces around him with high character. Stop worrying about me and go be one again🤫 https://t.co/X7WfffaQH4
— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) September 21, 2023
That’s a ruthless statement by Rivers. Bridges has gotten a rare second chance despite many people opposing it. Kevin Porter Jr.’s career may be over due to similar actions. It’s time Bridges uses his second chance to improve and not feel called out by comments on podcasts.
Bridges pled no contest to his felony domestic charge and was sentenced to three years of probation, with all other charges being dismissed. The Hornets brought him back after the NBA completed its investigation and he will be playing once again. The 25-year-old last averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the 2021-22 season.
What Did Austin Rivers Say To Start This Beef?
Austin Rivers had thrown an explosive first shot to start this entire argument when he appeared on a podcast and tore into the Hornets for failing to build around LaMelo Ball, even using the OKC Thunder as an example.
“Surround LaMelo around people that can f***ing help him tap into his potential, not deplete it. I feel like that’s what we’re getting right now. Troubled youth… What is the standard that’s being set there? The whole thing, It’s not LaMelo’s fault. It’s not on him. His job is to be a really talented young player and dominate, which he does every night. He just needs help… There are still teams that do it right. I don’t see these problems in OKC, that team’s pretty young, too. That s*it don’t fly there.”
"Surround LaMelo [Ball] around f*cking people that can help him tap into his potential, not deplete it… There's still teams that do it right. I don't see this problem in OKC… That sh*t don't fly there."
– Austin Rivers 👀
(via ringernba/TT)pic.twitter.com/p5nQ6FLpeE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 20, 2023
Rivers made a good point about the Hornets but used a very aggressive tone to do so, which would naturally irk people like Bridges. As of right now, Rivers is out of the NBA and hasn’t received a contract for next season.
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