Former NBA player Eric Bledsoe was arrested and accused of domestic violence, according to reports. Police in Lost Hills, California, responded to a call on Wednesday about a domestic incident in which the victim reported being slapped by her boyfriend. After Bledsoe was taken into custody he was later released after posting bail. This comes on the heels of Bledsoe signing in to play with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Following the incident a women believed to be Bledsoe’s girlfriend made a post on Instagram in which the caption read:
“NO RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS IS EVER WORTH STAYING IN. Domestic violence is real! This wasn’t the first time but I sat here and stayed so it’s my fault!!”
“ERIC BLEDSOE really is a monster.”
The post has since been deleted.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), on average nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered “domestic violence.”
At this point we don’t know what’s next in the legal proceedings for Bledsoe. He was arrested, charged and released on bond.
Regardless, if the allegations prove to be true then Bledsoe is a serial abuser and needs to seek help if applicable or face punishment. There should be no place for violence in a functioning and civilized society.
In the NBA in the past 12 months we’ve had alleged domestic violence incidents involving Miles Bridges, Rajon Rondo, Richaun Holmes, and Jaxson Hayes.
Bledsoe was drafted in 2010 by the Oklahoma City Thunder out of the University of Kentucky. He was a draft day trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he played during his first three years in the league. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans in his 13 year NBA career. Bledsoe was a two-time All-Defensive team selection.
It is unclear whether this arrest will impact Bledsoe’s deal with the Shanghai Sharks. The Chinese Basketball Association and the Sharks have yet to make a statement.
Back in 2017 as a member of the Suns, Bledsoe famously tweeted “I don’t wanna be here.” At the time he told Suns general manager Ryan McDonough that the tweet was about being at a hair salon.
I Dont wanna be here
— Eric Bledsoe (@EBled2) October 22, 2017
McDonough wasn’t buying it.
“He said he was at a hair salon… I didn’t believe that to be true. He won’t be with us going forward.”
Full quote from Suns GM Ryan McDonough RE: the status of Eric Bledsoe and the hair salon comment: pic.twitter.com/kmAKiIAoml
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) October 23, 2017
Bledsoe was fined $10,000 by the NBA and the Suns kept him away from the team. He was traded to the Bucks shortly thereafter, where he earned a four-year, $70 million contract extension and helped the team earn the league’s best record for two seasons.
But ultimately, he was ineffective in the playoffs and was traded to Pelicans for Jrue Holiday who helped the Bucks win the championship in 2021.
