We talked a lot about New York Knicks reassembling one of the most successful college programs in NCAA history, featuring Villanova alumni Josh Hart And Donte DiVincenzo join his Wildcat teammate Jalen Brunson in the Big Apple over the past year. However, there is one key Villanova player who has yet to rejoin the fold, and his former teammates aren’t afraid to remind him of that.
As Hart, DiVincenzo and Brunson thrive for the Knicks in the playoffs, Mikal Bridges suffered a disappointing season with his 26-45 Brooklyn nets. The difference between the two teams was evident on Saturday, as the Knicks beat the Nets, 105-93, behind DiVincenzo’s 31 points.
After the game, Hart decided to have a little fun with Bridges, who had 18 points, five assists and four rebounds in the loss, comparing his situation to a ubiquitous piece of pop culture.
“It’s like that SpongeBob meme when Squidward looks out the window and sees SpongeBob and Patrick having fun,” Hart said, via Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “[Mikal] is Squidward.”
To save you the trouble of a quick Google search, here’s the image Hart is referring to:
Although intended to tease his former teammate, Hart’s analogy highlights how difficult things have been in Brooklyn this season. A team that was hoping to make some noise in the Eastern Conference playoffs now sits well outside of the final Play-In tournament spot.
Bridges has not maintained the solid play he displayed after being traded from Phoenix Suns last season, suffering from a drop in production and efficiency.
|
SPT |
26.1 |
20.5 |
|
FG% |
47.5% |
43.9% |
|
3P% |
37.6% |
36.8% |
Meanwhile, Brunson and DiVincenzo are posting career-high point totals and Hart has recorded five triple-doubles in his last 22 games.
With his two-way skills, size and length, Bridges would be a great addition to any contender, including the Knicks. He still has two seasons left on his contract after this one, and has never suggested he wants to leave Brooklyn. In February, however, he brought up the Knicks — and his former Villanova teammates — when asked about his future.
“I know people might want to think about different situations and teams,” Bridges said. via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “Obviously I have my boys there in New York, so everyone’s cool with that.”
Hart was just giving his college buddy a hard time with the Squidward comparison, but whenever trade rumors swirl around Bridges, the Knicks will be an obvious destination.
