CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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.

More : sports.espn.go.com

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