Suns GM: Miles Bridges will be held to high standard after ‘unacceptable conduct’

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory was direct in addressing the domestic violence allegations, plea of no contest and 30-game suspension for Miles Bridges, calling it “unacceptable conduct that has occurred in the past.”

Gregory started the introductory press conference for Bridges on Wednesday by addressing components of the trade and how Bridges fits both on and off the floor before going in-depth on how the Suns did their own “thorough evaluation” into the conduct, stating he wanted to acknowledge the questions that he knew were coming.

“When we looked at the conduct and the seriousness of that, we also looked into, ‘Was there accountability taken? Was there remorse? Was he growing as a person off the court?'” Gregory said. “When we put all those together, we came to the conclusion and felt very, very strongly about the fact that he does and will live up to the standards that we have here. That he is a good cultural fit and character fit.”

Bridges took on several questions regarding the matters.

“It’s mixed feelings about me being here, but I take full responsibility for my actions. … Right know I’m just prioritizing being better as a man on and off the court, mainly off the court, and just being a great father and earning the trust of this fanbase and this community,” he said.

And this is not going anywhere. Despite how up front both of them were, this will follow Bridges for the rest of his career and life. The Suns know that.

“Those questions are part of his story,” Gregory said. “He’s dealt with them before and will deal with them today as well.”

Gregory said the Suns will have the same approach.

“I have no question at all that he understands the responsibility of what our organization’s expectations and values are,” Gregory said. “We will hold him accountable to the same high standards of everyone that is part of the Phoenix Suns organization. There will be no wavering on that, OK?

“We also understand that trust is not given, that it’s earned. And Miles understands that for him to earn the trust of his teammates, of our fans and of our great community, it’s going to be based on his daily actions and are they seeing the growth, is he doing the things we know he should be doing. And earning that trust is something that is very, very important to Miles.”

Bridges said he has improved as a person through counseling and therapy over the last three years, with a focus on being a great co-parent and great father.

Even if he believes that, Bridges acknowledged he had to earn the trust of the fanbase and community back in Charlotte, believes he was successful in doing so and wants to accomplish the same in Phoenix. He worked in the community there over the years and knows he has to do that now.

When rattling off the charitable work he did in Charlotte, Bridges did not mention any organizations involved in advocacy for domestic violence victims. When later followed up with if he plans to get involved in those organizations, Bridges said he still wants to do that and is having his people get in contact with local groups.

This was a move that undeniably alienated portions of the fanbase. It’s open to interpretation for how many fans that is and whether or not those fans will either watch the team with a pit in their stomach or disengage entirely.

Gregory said he understands and respects those fans.

“I think Miles understands ultimately he’s gonna be judged by his daily conduct every day moving forward,” he said. “When given the opportunity which we are giving him, he is going to show that he is going to be a great member of this community and he’s going to be active and he’s going to be engaged and he’s going to earn those people’s trust.”

What Gregory and Bridges are not speaking on, of course, is the fans that feel there is nothing Bridges or the organization can do to sway them or foster any level of trust. When they see Bridges in a Suns uniform, they will only see the pictures posted by the woman from those allegations or the billiard balls Bridges allegedly threw at her car while both her and her children were inside of it.

All that, Bridges’ 30-game suspension, year off from the league, plea of no contest that came with mandated counseling and therapy and ensuing accusations after the initial ones that resulted in the suspension is enough for some.

“I know I’m a good person,” Bridges said. “From stuff that y’all have seen people will think the opposite, but I want to show everybody who I really am and earn the respect here.”

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