Charlotte Hornets’ James Bouknight apologetic after weekend DWI arrest
.JPG "Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, right, talks with guard James Bouknight, left, following practice on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.")
James Bouknight apologized Tuesday and appeared remorseful following his arrest for driving while impaired early Sunday morning.
Speaking for the first time since details surfaced about the incident, the Charlotte Hornets guard said he was sorry for bringing the team so much unwanted attention as it prepares to begin the season in San Antonio on Wednesday night.
“Honestly, I just wanted to apologize for being a distraction before the start of the season,” Bouknight said after practice, “for my teammates and for what we’ve got going on.”
Bouknight practiced for the second straight day after being released on a $2,500 bond following his arrest by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police just before 2 a.m. Sunday. According to a CMPD police report, officers found the 22-year-old unconscious in his vehicle in an uptown parking deck around 1 a.m. Sunday. Bouknight also had a firearm in the vehicle but was not charged in connection with that.
He was charged with driving while impaired, arrest records show, and according to police radio communications obtained from Broadcastify, first responders from Medic, Charlotte Fire and CMPD attempted to awaken Bouknight to get him to unlock the vehicle, The Charlotte Observer reported previously.
Officers learned Bouknight had a pending concealed carry permit when they looked up the vehicle’s ownership information. Under North Carolina law, open carry is allowed in cases in which the gun is considered legal and the individual is not banned from carrying a firearm.
Bouknight’s weekend arrest wasn’t his first encounter with police while driving in the Charlotte area. He’s scheduled to appear in court later this month for a previous violation, and has several charges pending in Cabarrus County stemming from speeding and reckless driving charges. Public records state he was cited for driving 107 mph in a 65 mph zone.
In Mecklenburg, Bouknight was also ticketed for driving 92 in a 50 mph zone last Wednesday, according to court records, and cited for both speeding and reckless driving. Plus, he was cited in February for reckless driving. He has court dates set for December for both cases, records show. And a Mecklenburg County district attorney spokesperson confirmed Monday that a charge from November is also pending against Bouknight, involving a speeding offense of driving 84 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Asked if he plans on seeking any kind of assistance to ensure he’s the person he wants to be moving forward, Bouknight said: “Honestly, that’s kind of personal to me and I’m going to try to keep that to myself.”
It’s coming to a head all at once for Bouknight, who recently told the Observer he was in a good place mentally. This season is supposed to offer a new opportunity for the guard after his roller coaster rookie campaign was marred by a sideline spat with former coach James Borrego.
“Of course it’s disappointing,” Bouknight said. “I’m just trying to learn from it and be able to stay strong and move on and continue to grow.”
Bouknight hasn’t been suspended by the team and will be in uniform when the Hornets meet the Spurs at the AT&T Center. Coach Steve Clifford has spoken with Bouknight since the incident and said the organization remains in a fact-finding phase.
“We are just gathering information and then a final determination can be made,” Clifford said. “But he comes in, he practices. I’ve spoken with him. That’s part of any pro sport. Sometimes things are going to arise.
“Everybody is accountable for what they do. So that’s everybody. That’s just part of this league.”
Bouknight said he’s grateful for Clifford’s support.
“Cliff has been there every step of the way since he got here,” Bouknight said. “And having a coach that really believes in you and is invested in helping you and making you better means everything to me.”
Bouknight is on tap for a potential reserve spot in Clifford’s rotation and might be in the rotation against San Antonio with LaMelo Ball (sprained left ankle) sidelined. Bouknight struggled to carve a niche in the preseason and admitted he hasn’t come close to finding his comfort zone.
“I’m still trying to figure out my role on this team,” Bouknight said. “I think Cliff is the coach and whatever he decides that’s the way it’s going to go.”
For now, Bouknight said he is ready to put this latest situation behind him and focus on his game.
“Yeah, for sure,” Bouknight said. “I’m excited to get the season started. I’m excited to get playing.”
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets’ James Bouknight apologetic after weekend DWI arrest."
