THE The New York Knicks made one of the biggest splashes of the 2024 NBA offseason by trading a shocking number of first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a small forward Mikal Bridges. While many criticized the Knicks For essentially mortgaging their entire future for a player who has never played in an All-Star Game, New York is hoping the Trade bridges will allow to compete with the Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy.
The bridges didn’t taste like a much success during his time with the Nets, where he was traded during the 2023 season as part of the Kevin Durant package. In 2023, Brooklyn lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, and last year, the Nets missed the playoffs altogether.
However, it appears Bridges still has some love for his time in Brooklyn, as evidenced by his appearance at a recent Knicks fan event in Central Park, where a Nets reference drew boos from the crowd, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
“Y’all should appreciate Brooklyn because it made me better,” Bridges said, later adding, “Fuck, my game improved there.”
Bridges also spoke of his excitement about debuting in a Knicks uniform.
“Long offseason. I’m hungry to play right now,” Bridges said. “I’m ready now. I’m active. It’s been too long.”
How much will Bridges help the Knicks?
The tandem of Bridges and Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who signed a max contract this offseason, is sure to be one of, if not the best defensive wing duos in the NBA. The Knicks also have a better chance of succeeding because both players are more than capable of scoring shots from the perimeter and creating their own offense on occasion.
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New York also of course still employs Jalen Brunson, who emerged as a legitimate NBA star last season and overcame a rough start to make impressive playoff runs against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round and the Indiana Pacers in the second before injuring his hand in Game 7 of that series.
The Knicks are also eagerly awaiting the return of power forward Julius Randle, who was injured in January against the Miami Heat and missed the rest of the season because of it but will be ready for 2024-25.
Either way, the Knicks’ season will begin on October 22 against the Boston Celtics on the road.
