It’s past time for the NBA to take a stronger stance on domestic violence.

After a 30-game suspension, Charlotte forward Miles Bridges is set to return to the NBA this season after pleading no contest to felony charges that he physically assaulted his wife in the presence of their children in 2022. He eventually agreed to a deal that put the 25-year-old on probation for three years. He also had to complete 100 hours of community service, a year of domestic violence counseling and parenting classes, according to an ESPN report. Bridges’ ability isn’t in question. He averaged 20 points and seven rebounds in the 2021-22 season. With the suspension lingering, no team opted to sign Bridges last season. That shouldn’t have even been a possibility.

Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was the latest NBA player to make headlines for an act of domestic violence. Porter has been accused of breaking a vertebra in his partner’s neck during an altercation at a Manhattan hotel. It’s too early in the legal process for him to be formally punished, but there’s no way he should be around the team until it’s resolved. The Rockets are reportedly looking to trade Porter. That, also, shouldn’t be a possibility.

Before Bridges and Porter, there were Darren Collison, Matt Barnes, Artest and Jason Kidd, who faced domestic violence charges. All seemed to continue their basketball careers without much in the way of punishment. Bridges and Porter probably will serve stiffer punishment than their predecessors, but the NBA still has a way to go to make things right — just as with most other professional sports leagues.

To date, the NBA’s longest suspensions are OJ Mayo’s drug-related suspension that effectively ended his NBA career, Ron Artest’s 86-game suspension for his involvement in the “Malice at the Palace,” and Latrell Sprewell’s 68-game suspension for fighting and choking his coach, P.J. Carlesimo. Those are the type of suspensions Bridges, Porter and anyone else found to have committed a similar offense should face.

Adam Silver has the power to do so. The discipline portion of the league’s policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse reads “Based on a finding of just cause, the Commissioner may fine, suspend, or dismiss and disqualify from any further association with the NBA and its teams a player who engages in prohibited conduct in violation of this Policy. Repeat offenders will be subject to enhanced discipline.”

If Silver’s serious about cracking down on these incidents, he can start setting a new precedent.