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Hornets' James Bouknight arrested for DWI after he's found unconscious behind the wheel in parking garage

James Bouknight was found unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz AMG GT with a bag of Doritos and a Glock handgun on his lap before being arrested

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: James Bouknight, a second-year guard for the Charlotte Hornets, might not be available when the NBA season, which is anticipated to begin this week, kicks off. On October 16, Sunday, the 22-year-old NBA Draft's 11th overall pick was arrested for drunk driving in a parking garage in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, at around 2 am.

Bouknight was found unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz AMG GT with a bag of Doritos and a Glock handgun on his lap before being taken into custody for DWI, according to a picture acquired by TMZ. The arrest was a touch misleading because Bouknight allegedly passed out in the driver's seat of his $100,000 Benz, blocking the garage entrance, rather than really being behind the wheel when he was arrested. Witnesses said that security repeatedly pounded on James' window in an attempt to wake him up, but they were unsuccessful.

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Looking through the windscreen of the car, security observed a gun on Bouknight's lap, so they called the police. When police arrived, they were able to wake up the 6'4" NBA player and take him into arrest. Following his arrest, Bouknight was granted a $2,500 bond and freed.

Bouknight wasn't charged with any offences involving the gun because it is legal to carry a gun in public in North Carolina without a permit. 

"We are aware of the incident involving James Bouknight and are in the process of gathering additional information. We will have no further comment at this time," Charlotte Hornets statement on Bouknight's arrest read. The arrest of Bouknight is a concerning move for both him and the Hornets organization.

Bouknight has had four driving-related accidents since being drafted, including two in the past week. Another Charlotte Hornets player named Miles Bridges was arrested earlier this offseason on felony domestic violence allegations after his girlfriend claimed he had brutally abused her in front of their kids.

Speaking of his performance, Bouknight played in 31 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Starting the season, the Charlotte Hornets will be without their top two scorers from 2021–2022. Miles Bridges is still a free agent due to his previously mentioned felony domestic violence arrest, and LaMelo Ball, an All-Star point guard, is anticipated to miss the start of the regular season owing to his sprained left ankle. A lot of people believe that the Charlotte Hornets would finish at the bottom of the rankings if Ball ends up missing a significant amount of time.