Mikal Bridges facts for kids
Bridges in April 2024
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| No. 25 – New York Knicks | |
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| Shooting guard / small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 30, 1996 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | Great Valley (Malvern, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 209 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Villanova (2015–2018) |
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Pro career | 2018–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2023 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2023–2024 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 2024–present | New York Knicks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Mikal Bridges (born August 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats. He helped his team win two national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Bridges was picked tenth overall in the 2018 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He was then traded to the Phoenix Suns on the same night. With the Suns, he reached the 2021 NBA Finals. In February 2023, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Then, in July 2024, he joined the New York Knicks. Mikal Bridges is known as “the Warden” because he has not missed a single game in his NBA career. This is an amazing record for any player!
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Growing Up: Mikal Bridges' Early Life
Mikal Bridges was born to Tyneeha Rivers. She raised him as a single mother. He grew up in Overbrook, Philadelphia, and nearby areas. When he was in middle school, his family moved to Malvern, Pennsylvania. His second cousin is Tyrone Garland, who also played college basketball.
High School Basketball Journey
Bridges went to Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He started taking basketball seriously in his second year of high school. This was when he had a big growth spurt and grew to 6 feet 6 inches tall.
As a junior, he scored about 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds per game. In his senior year, he was named First Team All-Class AAAA. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. The Philadelphia Inquirer named him to their All-Southeastern Pa. first team. By the end of high school, he had scored 1,340 points and grabbed 511 rebounds. ESPNU ranked him as the 82nd best player in the country. He decided to play for Villanova in June 2013.
College Career: Becoming a Champion
First Year at Villanova
Bridges took a "redshirt" year in his first season at Villanova. This meant he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. He helped by scouting other players. In his first year playing, he played in all 40 games for the Wildcats. He worked hard on his strength and changed his three-point shot.
He played a key role coming off the bench in the 2016 NCAA tournament. He scored 11 points in a big win against the Oklahoma Sooners. Bridges and his teammates won the NCAA championship. This was Villanova's first championship since 1985. As a freshman, he averaged 6.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. His coach, Jay Wright, was proud of how Mikal improved his defense.
Sophomore Year: A Five-Tool Player
At the start of the 2016–17 season, Bridges was expected to be the team's sixth man. But he started every game after another player got injured. Joe Juliano of The Philadelphia Inquirer called him a "five-tool player" in college basketball. This means he was good at everything.
He became known as a tall forward who could score and play amazing defense. He often guarded the best player on the other team. In the NCAA Tournament, he scored 13 points to help Villanova win their first-round game. As a sophomore, Bridges averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He made 54 percent of his shots and 39 percent of his three-pointers. He got better at scoring as the season went on. Bridges was also named one of the Big East defensive players of the year. He was third in the conference in steals, with 1.9 per game.
Junior Year: Awards and the NBA Draft
Bridges was named to the preseason All-Big East second team for the 2017–18 season. He made all six of his three-point shots and scored 24 points against Lafayette. On December 4, he scored a career-high 28 points. He also had six rebounds and two blocks in a win over Gonzaga. Bridges scored 23 points in an overtime win against Seton Hall.
At the end of the regular season, he was named to the All-Big East first team. He was also named MVP of the Big East tournament. He scored 28 points in the championship game, which Villanova won in overtime.
As a junior, Bridges averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He shot 51 percent overall and 43.5 percent from three-point range. He won the Julius Erving Award for being the best small forward. On April 10, 2018, Bridges decided to enter the 2018 NBA draft. He was the 10th player picked in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he was soon traded to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns gave up the 16th pick and a future first-round pick for him.
Professional Career: NBA Journey
Phoenix Suns: Rookie to Playoff Star (2018–2023)
Mikal Bridges was drafted by his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. But he was quickly traded to the Phoenix Suns. He joined the Suns for the 2018 NBA Summer League. He signed a 4-year contract worth $17.6 million with the Suns.
Bridges played in the Suns' first regular season game on October 17, 2018. He made his professional debut in a big win over the Dallas Mavericks. A few days later, he scored his first points, rebounds, and assists. On November 14, he started his first career game. He scored eight points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. From January 22 to March 6, Bridges got at least one steal in every game. He was the only Suns player to play in all 82 games that season.
In the 2019–20 season, Bridges matched his career-high of 20 points. He also grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. On January 18, he scored a season-high 26 points. He made 6 of 8 three-point shots in a win over the Boston Celtics. In the special "NBA Bubble" games in 2020, Bridges started all eight games for the Suns.
On January 9, 2021, Bridges set a new career-high with 34 points. He helped the Suns start the season with a great 7–3 record. On May 13, Bridges had 21 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. During Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Finals, Bridges scored 27 points. This helped the Suns take a 2–0 lead in the series. However, the Suns lost the Finals in 6 games to the Milwaukee Bucks.
In October 2021, Bridges signed a new 4-year, $90 million contract with the Suns. The Suns finished the regular season with the best record in the league. Bridges was praised for his defense. He finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year. He was also chosen for his first All-Defensive First Team. On April 26, 2022, Bridges scored a playoff career-high 31 points. He also had five rebounds and four blocks in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Brooklyn Nets: A New Chapter (2023–2024)
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On February 9, 2023, the Suns traded Bridges to the Brooklyn Nets. He was traded along with other players and draft picks. This trade brought Kevin Durant to the Suns. When he joined the Nets, fans nicknamed him Brooklyn Bridges. This is a fun play on words, like the famous Brooklyn Bridge.
On February 11, Bridges played his first game for the Nets. He scored 23 points, had 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. On February 15, Bridges scored a career-high 45 points in a win over the Miami Heat. On March 26, he scored 44 points against the Orlando Magic.
On April 3, Bridges won his first NBA Player of the Week award. He led the Nets to a perfect 3–0 week. He averaged 33 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals. On April 9, Bridges played his 83rd game of the season. This made him one of only 42 players in NBA history to play 83 or more games in a regular season. As of the end of the 2023–24 season, Bridges still holds the record for the most consecutive games played, with 494 games. This makes him the current "iron man" of the NBA.
On December 2, 2023, Bridges scored 42 points. He had 26 of those points in the first quarter. On December 6, he scored 30 points and made a game-winning shot against the Atlanta Hawks.
New York Knicks: Reuniting with Teammates (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks. He joined the Knicks along with Keita Bates-Diop. In return, the Nets received several players and future draft picks. This trade brought Bridges back together with his former Villanova teammates, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. This group is sometimes called the "Villanova Knicks" or "Nova Knicks."
On October 22, 2024, Bridges played his first game for the Knicks. He scored 16 points in a game against the Boston Celtics. On December 25, Bridges scored 41 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Playing for Team USA
Bridges was part of the United States national team. They played in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Against Italy, he led the team with 24 points. This helped them reach the semifinals. They lost to Germany in the semis. This meant they would play for the bronze medal against Canada.
In the bronze medal game, Bridges was fouled with 4.2 seconds left. Team USA was down by four points. He made the first free throw. Then, he intentionally missed the second one to get his own rebound. He quickly made a three-pointer that sent the game into overtime! However, Canada won in overtime and took the bronze medal. Team USA finished fourth in the tournament.
Fun Facts About Mikal Bridges
In December 2023, Mikal Bridges shared a fun fact in an interview. He said that he has eaten at Chipotle Mexican Grill every single day for the past ten years!
See also
In Spanish: Mikal Bridges para niños
