Charlotte Hornets shooting guard P.J. Hairston has still not grasped the tenuous situation of athletes with multiple run-ins with the law in pro sports. For the third straight year Hairston is involved with off-court issues.
A June 18 citation for speeding, and driving with expired tags and driving left of center marks. He had been nabbed for going 51 miles per hour in a 35-MPH zone. Brittney Bougues, CEO of All In PR, defended Hairston in this incident and said it's being blown out of proportion because of his history.
"P.J. is young, he's human and we all make mistakes. Some of it was misrepresented. He was given a citation like any other person would be given. And once you comply with the situation and show proof of rectifying the situation, which he's done, everything is dismissed. He's really trying to focus on what he's here to do and that's play basketball and support the community and get past this."
Hairston entered the NBA earlier than expected because he was kicked off the University of North Carolina Tar Heels' basketball team for misdemeanor marijuana possession and driving without a license. He had also had previous problems that summer with being linked to a car that was in the name of a known drug dealer.
In 2014 Hairston was arrested for misdemeanor assault and battery after striking a 17-year-old during a dispute in a pickup basketball game. This most recent issue is less serious, but shows a continued lack of judgment.
Perhaps most damning, Hairston has not contributed much on the court. He played just more than 15 minutes per game, scoring 5.6 points with two rebounds and 0.5 assists. He shot just 30 percent from 3-point range.
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