New Nets boss Mikal Bridges suffered a little in the playoffs, in a role of first offensive option to which he must still adapt. But the former Suns winger was immediately embraced by Brooklyn fans, who gave him the perfect nickname, “Brooklyn Bridges.”
“Brooklyn has been through a lot with Kyrie, Harden and KD. Everything that happened… with Kyrie and all that”, he thus explained. “I think (the fans) were ready for a fresh start, and I’m the complete opposite of those guys. I am super calm, super relaxed. I’m not imagining stuff, so overall I’m happy. I knew it was going to be okay, that was for sure. »
Basketball player with a somewhat “old-fashioned” mentality, who does not like to miss matches and who keeps his feet on the ground at all times, Mikal Bridges explains, without quoting anyone (even if we can make an obvious link with the situation by Ja Morant…) that many basketball players lose their feet in the NBA.
Feet on the ground
“It’s linked to a lot of things. Maybe the people around them. And not being used to fame. You know, I feel like some people are arrogating to themselves, especially in a league where you feel like you don’t have to listen to anyone and people are afraid to tell you certain things. So you can get away with a lot of things. That’s what happens sometimes, and people sometimes forget about work”.
Because Mikal Bridges repeats to him that he is above all a hard worker, and that his success has only one secret: hard work.
“Everyone asks me, ‘What’s the secret? How are you improving?’ I say, ‘It’s just practice. I train every day. I don’t kill myself in training, but I work and I improve” he continues. “I think there is no secret. I train, I work on my game, I try to get stronger and I keep trying to improve, and I think that’s the easiest thing to do. »
With the former Villanova, it is therefore the return of the “blue collar” culture in Brooklyn, after the rhinestones and the glitter of the trio Kyrie Irving – Kevin Durant – James Harden. And it ultimately sticks perhaps better to the club.
| Mikal Bridges | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 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 | 26.2 |
| Total | 392 | 32 | 49.5 | 37.6 | 85.7 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 13.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
