Cats assistant pleads guilty to DWI; Suspended by NBA

[Timmeh]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff pleaded guilty to driving while impaired.

Bickerstaff, the son of Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff, was given a suspended sentence Wednesday in Mecklenburg District Court and ordered to complete 24 hours of community service for his July 19 arrest. He lost his driver's license for a year, but was given a restricted license for driving to work.

Bickerstaff's attorney George Laughrun said Thursday a charge of failing to stop for a police blue light and siren was dismissed.

"John-Blair Bickerstaff is a fine young man who made a serious lapse in judgment," Bobcats owner Bob Johnson said in a statement. "We will support him and work with him to ensure this isolated incident does not recur."

The 27-year-old Bickerstaff is the youngest assistant coach in the NBA. He was on the bench for Charlotte's season-opener Wednesday night, the day of his court hearing.

I guess it's not that big of a story, and it was kind of downplayed by the media. Luckily it hasn't really affected the team in any visible sort of way.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Wow, I always thought of John-Blair as a good guy. I guess everyone makes mistakes.

[Timmeh]

AP

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff was suspended two games without pay by the NBA on Friday for driving while impaired.

Bickerstaff, the son of Bobcats head coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff, was given a suspended sentence on Nov. 1 in Mecklenburg District Court and ordered to complete 24 hours of community service for his July 19 arrest. He lost his driver's license for a year, but was given a restricted license for driving to work.

"The powers spoke. When the big house speaks, then that's the deal," Bernie Bickerstaff said. "He's a very strong young man and he'll be better for it."

The 27-year-old Bickerstaff is the youngest assistant coach in the NBA. He'll miss home games against Seattle Friday and Denver on Sunday.