Flagship recruit of the summer Knicks with Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges struggling to acclimatize for the moment: 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 interceptions (in 38 minutes) but… 45% shooting, 31% 3-pointers and 62% shooting.
The winger hoped to regain his effectiveness at new York after losing skill in Brooklyn, but here he is in difficulty after the summer debates linked to his shooting mechanics. And it's not getting better because, in Charlotte, he was left on the bench by Tom Thibodeau in the last eight minutes of the game…
Leave time for time
A choice that the interested party understand perfectly: “ I have to play better, I'm too irregular. There were matches where I played well and others where I played poorly. I just have to find my rhythm on this team. That's all. I haven't played 20 matches yet, so I'm still trying to adapt. »
Preferred over Mikal Bridges, it was Miles McBride who was used in the “money-time” to bring his “ freshness » and its ability to “ make shots » according to Tom Thibodeau. “ The right decision » in the eyes of the former Suns and Nets player, who was also “benched” last Saturday in Utah.
“ The most important thing is to win » he assures in any case, after his match with 8 points and 3 lost balls (at 3/10). “ But obviously I have to play better. I must realize the opportunities I have. I lost a lot of balls stupidly and, on several occasions, my opponent scored by going through the middle. I will be better. »
Do not take into account the consideration
On the Knicks side, we are not currently worried by the recent performances of Mikal Bridges, who is now only the third or even fourth offensive option on the team, after having been the first in Brooklyn.
“ I say it all the time: everything will be fine for Mikal » assures his coach, Tom Thibodeau. “ If it was a rookie, I would be more worried because you never really know a rookie, there is nothing to base it on, but we know Mikal's past. »
Then his teammate Josh Hart to be more aggressive when he hears about his transfer: “ The media and people are constantly coming at him, but he's in a new environment. This is a situation where he has played 19 games in a different role than he has the last four years. It's up to us to trust him and all the bullshit about what we gave to get him back [cinq premiers choix de Draft, ndlr]it doesn't mean anything. If we win the title, no one will care about the number of Draft rounds dropped. We could have given 15, it wouldn't have mattered. In the end, we are just trying to win the title and he will be a key element at this level. »
As for Jalen Brunsonanother member of the famous “Villanova Connection”: “ He's one of us and we won't let anyone down. »
| Mikal Bridges | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | PHX | 82 | 30 | 43.0 | 33.5 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 8.3 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 73 | 28 | 51.0 | 36.1 | 84.4 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 9.1 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 72 | 33 | 54.3 | 42.5 | 84.0 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 13.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHX | 82 | 35 | 53.4 | 36.9 | 83.4 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 14.2 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 83 | 36 | 46.8 | 38.2 | 89.5 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| 2022-23 * | PHX | 56 | 36 | 46.3 | 38.7 | 89.7 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 17.2 |
| 2022-23 * | BRK | 27 | 34 | 47.5 | 37.6 | 89.4 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 26.1 |
| 2023-24 | BRK | 82 | 35 | 43.6 | 37.2 | 81.4 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 19.6 |
| 2024-25 | NYK | 19 | 38 | 45.4 | 30.6 | 61.5 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 15.5 |
| Total | 493 | 33 | 47.9 | 37.1 | 84.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 14.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
