2023-07-11 04:28:25
In his third game with the Nets, Bridges scored a career-high 45 points, plus 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a win over the Heat. His previous career high was 34 points. He never broke the 40-point mark with the Suns, but in his final months in Brooklyn, he did so three times, including twice in three games. …
Mikal Bridges is in his fifth NBA season and has never missed a game. After a major trade sent him to Brooklyn last February, he proved to be not only a solid teammate but also a star player in New York.
Less than 24 hours following the Phoenix Suns’ game once morest the Brooklyn Nets arrived in Atlanta, Mikal Bridges was told he had to fly back to Brooklyn, and he was given a one-way ticket. In other words, he was traded.
With no chance of retrieving personal items from his Phoenix home, Bridges packed his bags for the five-game road trip (the ATL was the fourth), said goodbye to teammates and staff, and set off for Brooklyn alone. journey of.
For the next few weeks, he lived in a hotel near the Brooklyn Bridge until he found more permanent accommodation. While the transition might feel sudden, a change of scenery isn’t the only thing Bridges will have to adjust to over the next few weeks.
He will be facing a completely different role, and a completely different level of spotlight than he has in the past.
In his third game with the Nets, Bridges scored a career-high 45 points, plus 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a win over the Heat. His previous career high was 34 points. With the Suns, he never broke the 40-point mark, but in his final months in Brooklyn, he did so three times, including twice in three games.
Bridges recalled: “That game felt great, and we won the game. I can definitely say that following that game once morest Miami, I felt all the focus. And then, I went through it with that feeling. All-Star Weekend. I went home and went into Phase 2 of my career fully prepared.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
He quickly etched his name into the Nets annals time and time once more. Became the first player in NBA history to average 25 points or more in his first 10 games with his new team while shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line .
He also broke the Nets record for most scoring in a single month in March and the second-highest scoring record for any month in franchise history.
Bridges averaged 17.2 points per game in 56 games with the Phoenix Suns this past season, and his scoring average soared to 26.1 with the Nets.
The former Villanova standout has scored 30 or more points 11 times in Brooklyn since switching teams in mid-February. Before the trade, he had only surpassed the 30-point record once this season (and only twice in his entire career).
He’s suddenly gone from an unremarkable role player in the corner, out of the shadows of All-Stars like Devin Booker and Chris Paul, to a true star. Overnight, he became a key player on a playoff team.
“I think the hardest thing is understanding that things are changing, the deals happen so fast. I have to leave my location to go there, I even just pack some bags and go straight to New York. But it’s cool, I’ve always wanted to Live in New York. Played in Philly, but I used to come to New York a lot in college. I love the people and the vibe of New York and the city. So, I’m super happy to be here and back on the East Coast once more. Of course , I also love the people of Phoenix, they’re all great, but this time I’m just going back to where I know and I’m used to,” Bridges said.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
After trading superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant within a few days, the Nets found a new star much faster than they expected. Bridges offers hope to fans desperate for hope and excitement. At the dawn of a new era, the franchise found a new identity.
But there are challenges to being a player on any NBA team. You will encounter defensive strategies that no one else has seen, and you will be investigated by different scouts. As a team leader, people expect more from you than anyone else in the locker room. Leadership roles also entail some additional responsibilities. It’s all part of Bridges’ learning curve, and he relishes the challenge.
“I think the biggest challenge is probably being in a leadership role all the time. Even when I’m down, other people are looking at me and I feel like that’s something that I have to work on. I shouldn’t be affected by the fluctuations of the game. …I can’t let my emotions affect the rest of the team, so I have to stay positive, keep going even when the odds are tough, and keep my cool,” Bridges said of having to suddenly take on a leadership role in Brooklyn. arrive.
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