There’s simply one thing the New York Knicks love about these Villanova merchandise within the NBA.
The Knicks have reportedly struck a commerce with the Brooklyn Nets to carry Mikal Bridges, a former teammate of Knicks stars, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo throughout their time at Villanova, to Madison Sq. Backyard in a blockbuster deal.
On this first commerce between each groups since 1983, the Knicks will ship veteran ahead Bogdan Bogdanovic, 4 unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round choose by way of the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected choose swap and a second-round choose in alternate for Bridges, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks discuss to Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets after the sport on March 23, 2024 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis, New York. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures)
The Knicks noticed precisely what former school teammates may do on the ground collectively within the NBA final season, as Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart all had stellar campaigns in the course of the workforce’s playoff run.
Now, Bridges reunites with teammates he received a number of NCAA nationwide titles with throughout his school days.
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Bridges’ response was doubtless that of all Knicks followers, as he posted on social media.
“That is loopy lol,” Bridges merely posted on X.
Bridges, the tenth total choose of the 2018 NBA Draft who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Phoenix Suns on draft evening, has developed right into a star with the Nets since he was dealt earlier than the deadline within the 2022-23 marketing campaign.
He jumped from 17.2 factors per sport to 26.1 over 27 contests that season as a Web, and final yr’s manufacturing was strong as nicely.
Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats grabs a rebound in entrance of teammates Donte DiVincenzo #10 and Jalen Brunson #1 towards the Windfall Friars on the Wells Fargo Middle on January 23, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Pictures)
Bridges averaged 19.6 factors per sport with 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals, whereas taking pictures 43.6% from the sector over all 82 regular-season video games.
The Philly native, who was a 2021-22 All-Defensive workforce honoree, figures to fit proper into the beginning lineup alongside his Villanova brothers, together with the All-Star Brunson who exploded for an All-NBA nod after averaging a career-high 28.7 factors per contest.
The information of Bridges’ addition comes as OG Anunoby, the Knicks’ traded-for wing final season, reportedly opted out of his contract and determined to check free company.
Bridges, at 6-foot-6, has the power to protect nearly any participant on the ground, and head coach Tom Thibodeau loves gamers with that additional hustle, which he offers each evening.
New York is clearly a win-now workforce after going 50-32 final season to earn the No. 2 seed within the Jap Convention. However they’ve misplaced within the convention semifinals in back-to-back seasons, so including one other playmaker who can thrive on each ends of the ground was paramount for his or her squad this offseason.
Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates after making a shot within the third quarter towards the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 01, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Dylan Buell/Getty Pictures)
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That field is checked with the addition of Bridges, who shouldn’t have any hassle getting acclimated together with his new workforce.
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