Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half at Frost Bank Center on Friday, March 14, 2025. Scott Wachter USA TODAY NETWORK
Miles Bridges’ explanation didn’t take long.
The level of steadiness from the Charlotte Hornets’ starting power forward has been off the charts lately, and he’s fared extremely well since the All-Star break, easily morphing into the team’s most valuable player.
“The game has slowed down for me a lot,” Bridges said. “I’ve been making my 3s, getting to the free-throw line and I think that’s really been helping me stay ready.”
But there must be some truly in-depth reasoning for the explosion, right?
“It just has,” said Bridges, who posted 21 points to go with eight assists and seven rebounds in the Hornets’ 145-134 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on Friday night.
“It just has. I’d say it’s because I’m getting to the free throw-line more. So, that’s me seeing easy shots go in and then me going from there.”
Bridges is in a steady rhythm, putting up gaudy offensive numbers despite being one of the main focal points in the opposing team’s scouting report, given the Hornets’ sheer number of injuries.
He was coming off an outing in Atlanta where he became the initial player this season and the first in Hornets history to record 31 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals. He’s the third player in NBA history to reach that statistical threshold, joining Luka Doncic and Walt Williams.
The growth of Bridges — whose stats are up across the board, including a career-best 21.4 points per game — in his sixth season remains very apparent.
“Player development plays the backbone of our whole culture and the thing that’s been really impressive with Miles,” coach Charles Lee said, “is just this consistency with his approach to every day. I feel like since day one since I’ve been here and since we re-signed him, he’s just been committed to the process and the daily improvement mindset.”
And that’s not it.
“He’s improved his habits professionally,” Lee said, “how he takes care of his body, making sure that he’s watching more film, making sure that he’s taking advantage of every court session with (assistant coach) Chris Jent.”
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Scott Wachter USA TODAY NETWORK
Most of all, though, the 26-year-old has emerged as the Hornets’ most notable leader, taking on the role with an unwavering commitment. Constantly chirping during the bright moments and not-so-exciting ones has become a staple of his and that won’t be changing any time soon.
As one of the younger teams in the league, the Hornets are in dire need of solid player leadership, which is why they brought veteran Taj Gibson on board back in the summer. And apparently, the 39-year-old’s presence has been beneficial, rubbing off on Bridges.
There’s a fine line between lighting up people when it’s required while also giving positive reinforcement, and Bridges has figured out the formula to toeing it effectively, taking on the unenviable duty of being the person trying to keep everybody in check on the court. He wants to ensure they are following the proper protocols.
“He’s always been pretty vocal, but he’s learned how to be an extension of the coaching staff and everything that we are trying to preach — and he’s also doing it,” Lee said. “Talk is cheap, and so a lot of guys, they want to lead but they themselves don’t lead by example. So, when you talk everyone is looking at you like, ‘Oh yeah you want us to scramble, then why don’t you scramble?’
“And the thing that helps Miles a ton is he does it and he backs it up. So, it gives him even more credibility when he speaks up, and he picks and chooses his moment when to have discussions with guys, too.”
Consider it another piece of Bridges’ evolution as a player.
“I feel like I’ve always been vocal, but it’s just consistently being vocal,” Bridges said. “That’s the part where I stepped up this year through wins and losses. Even when I’m playing bad I’m still trying to be vocal. I feel like the last few years if I was playing bad I’d be quiet and I’d let the other guys speak up.”
“But nah, that’s not what a leader is, so that’s where I take the initiative.”
Hornets hit new record in San Antonio
Nick Smith Jr. couldn’t believe it.
“Like for real?” the guard said. “We got No. 1?”
Indeed. The Hornets made a franchise-record 26 3-pointers in their victory over the Spurs on Friday. Josh Green and Smith became the first teammates in the NBA since at least 1997-98 to each knock down five or more shots beyond the arc in the same half without missing.
“We were trying to hit everything,” Smith said. “We just got it going.”
Charlotte’s 18 first-half 3-pointers established a new franchise record as well and matched the league’s top mark. The 145 points they totaled in San Antonio were second only to the 158 they scored in Indiana in 2022.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Scott Wachter USA TODAY NETWORK
LaMelo Ball had 11 of his career-high-tying 15 assists in the first half, registering a double-double with 27 points. Ball sank seven 3-pointers. The Hornets also connected on season bests in made field goals (51), field-goal percentage (60) and 3-point percentage (56.5).
“The other number … was 41,” Lee said, reciting a particular stat before it was later upped to 42 by the official scorer. “Forty-one assists is something that’s unbelievable. We talked about it this morning, trusting the pass and doing it for 48 minutes, and I thought the guys did a heck of a job creating advantages in pick-and-rolls and then not letting the ball stick.
“Everybody got a piece of the pie, and a lot of it started with our great defensive energy and intensity as well.”
The Charlotte Observer
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.