<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-biggest-benefactor-mike-brown-new-system');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ Mikal Bridges expected to be biggest benefactor of Mike Brown’s new system');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks’ Mikal Bridges expected to be biggest benefactor of Mike Brown’s new system</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-07T11:45:06-07:00">October 7th, 11:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-07T11:45:06-07:00">October 7th, 11:45am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With new head coach Mike Brown, Mikal Bridges may prove to benefit the most of anybody on the New York Knicks.</p><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/why-mikal-bridges-excited-finally-got-rookies-with-knicks">Bridges benefited greatly</a> this offseason when he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">signed a four-year, $150 million contract extension</a>, his role within his team’s offense could expand under the leadership of Brown, who succeeded Tom Thibodeau following the Knicks’ trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.</p><p>“They are determined to play more up-tempo as a team this year,” ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst <a href="https://youtu.be/sIbYWdoUvNU?list=PLu1neCd4swuakibtwr6887z4D8YH3YUnK&amp;t=1295" rel="noopener">said on the</a> ‘Hoop Collective’ podcast. “I would say my biggest takeaway from the Knicks is that Mikal Bridges is going to benefit, at least if they stick to this up-tempo offense, because Bridges is dedicating himself to get out ahead of the play.</p><p>“And in two halves, basically, he played, he probably had four or five run-outs where he got thrown ahead, where he either got an easy basket or got a foul. And you could understand, Bridges, his role is to work really hard on the defensive end and then space the floor offensively.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>When Bridges was a part of the Phoenix Suns for the first five seasons of his career, he mostly served as a tertiary offensive option while sometimes rising to be the secondary option behind Devin Booker. But when he was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-finalize-trade-haul-mikal-bridges-knicks-blockbuster-deal">traded to the Brooklyn Nets</a> in exchange for Kevin Durant, he proved he was more than capable of bearing the offensive load.</p><p>In the 27 games following the trade to finish the 2022-23 season, Bridges averaged 26 points per game while shooting 48% from the field, 38% on 3-pointers, and 89% at the free-throw line. His numbers dropped the following season, his only full year in Brooklyn, although he still scored 20 points per game and shot 37% from the 3-point line.</p><p>With the Knicks, Bridges again saw his numbers drop, albeit not by much, as he became the third option behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, which limited the number and quality of touches he had.</p><p>If Bridges can become a greater or more efficient <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/year-2-karl-anthony-towns-mikal-bridges-push-knicks-next-level">part of the Knicks’ offense</a>, it could go a long way as New York tries to take advantage of major injuries to Eastern Conference contenders such as the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks’ Mikal Bridges expected to be biggest benefactor of Mike Brown’s new system

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/why-mikal-bridges-excited-finally-got-rookies-with-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Mikal Bridges is excited he ‘finally got some rookies’ with the Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Why-Mikal-Bridges-is-excited-he-finally-got-some-rookies-with-the-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Mikal Bridges is excited he ‘finally got some rookies’ with the Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-24T17:33:30-07:00">September 24th, 5:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-25T08:31:27-07:00">September 25th, 8:31am</time><address><a>Kris Pursiainen</a>Kris Pursiainen is an Associate Editor for all sports based in the NJ/NYC area. Kris brings several years of experience reporting on and writing about professional teams to the table. With experience all over the country as a New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Mets, Super Bowl LVIII, and Big East beat reporter, Kris has been breaking news and reporting on the NBA, NFL, MLB, and college basketball landscapes for years. Kris is a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Mikal Bridges is heading into his eighth year in the NBA. He just <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-how-150-million-mikal-bridges-extension-ensures-title-window-remains-open">signed an extension with the New York Knicks</a> through 2029 with a player option for 2030.</p><p>The 29-year-old wing provides value in various ways, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-plays-six-seconds-nets-keep-iron-man-streak-alive">from his ‘iron man’ streak</a> to his length, shooting ability, and defensive versatility. Bridges earned a reputation as a multifaceted contributor during his time with the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets. But he says he has gotten an opportunity with the Knicks that he hasn’t truly experienced before.</p><p>“I think just throughout my years in Phoenix, really didn’t have rookies that much. So even as years moved on, I was still kind of, like, the youngest,” Bridges said at media day on Tuesday.</p><p>The Villanova product joined the Suns as part of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-deandre-ayton-reveals-welcome-text-luka-doncic">same draft class as DeAndre Ayton</a> in 2018. The Suns did add six rookies in the next two drafts. But one, Cam Johnson, was older than Bridges. The other three were no more than one year younger. The Knicks drafted four rookies last offseason and added an intriguing prospect in this year’s second round.</p><p>Bridges explained that he appreciates the members of the Nets’ young core he got to know. It was the brevity of his stint in Brooklyn that kept him from developing those relationships further.</p><p>“Then I get to Brooklyn and finally got some rookies. And then, you know, situation there wasn’t the best, and I ended up getting traded and stuff,” Bridges shared. “So it was tough for me to kind of feel it as much as I wanted to, even though I still have a really good relationship with them over there.”</p><h2>How the Knicks’ young core made Mikal Bridges a first-time mentor</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/why-mikal-bridges-excited-finally-got-rookies-knicks.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>When asked by ClutchPoints about his relationship with the Knicks’ young players, Bridges said they keep him entertained.</p><p>“Yeah, man, the young dudes, Kev and them, they’re hilarious,” Bridges told reporters while stifling a laugh. “It kind of makes me think what I was coming out of college. But, nah, they dope man…being here now, and [having] last year and signing an extension here, just being more around them, building way more relationships with them, it’s hilarious man.”</p><p>The toolsy wing made headlines last season when he <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/12/sports/why-mikal-bridges-asked-tom-thibodeau-to-play-knicks-starters-less/" rel="noopener">revealed that he asked</a> former coach Tom Thibodeau to play the starters ‘fewer minutes.’ He finished the season averaging 37 minutes per game, fourth-most in the NBA.</p><p>Heading into 2026, the Knicks have more depth <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/josh-hart-nagging-finger-injury-throw-wrench-knicks-season">and a coach known for using it.</a> And on top of enjoying his friendship with younger members of the Knicks like Kevin McCullar Jr. and Ariel Hukporti, Bridges believes in them on the court, too.</p><p>“Great dudes, great kids, and the biggest thing about them is they work hard. So just seeing how much they’ve gotten better over the years- over the year,” Bridges said to correct himself, “is real cool. But yeah, they’re all funny. Funny as hell.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Mikal Bridges is excited he ‘finally got some rookies’ with the Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/year-2-karl-anthony-towns-mikal-bridges-push-knicks-next-level');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Year 2 of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges will push Knicks to next level');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Why-Year-2-of-Karl-Anthony-Towns-Mikal-Bridges-will-push-Knicks-to-next-level.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Year 2 of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges will push Knicks to next level</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-16T08:00:55-07:00">September 16th, 8:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-16T08:00:55-07:00">September 16th, 8:00am</time><address><a>Drew Maresca</a>Drew Maresca is a NY-area writer and researcher who has covered the NBA for more than 5 years. Prior to joining ClutchPoints to cover the New York Knicks, Drew wrote for Basketball News and Basketball Insiders. Drew has conducted interviews inside NBA locker rooms including Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, and the Kia Center, and he covered the 2019 NBA Draft in-person from Brooklyn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/new-york-knicks-2025-26-season-predictions">enter the 2025-26 season with high expectations</a>, and rightfully so. They are coming off back-to-back 50-win seasons. They have an arguably top-10 player in Jalen Brunson. And they just <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/mike-brown-knicks-tom-thibodeau-nba-title">swapped a coach who many felt was holding them back with one known for more creativity</a>.</p><p>But chief among the reasons for optimism is that Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges are entering their second season with the team, meaning they will be more comfortable and familiar with their teammates and what is expected of them.</p><h2><b>Why Year 2 for Karl-Anthony Towns will be better than Year 1</b></h2><p>Towns likely has more upside to tap into than Bridges. Why? First of all, he was lost in the team’s offense too often last season — although that applies to Bridges, as well. But understanding  Towns’ importance to New York’s success makes it more puzzling.</p><p>Specifically, Towns went relatively long stretches without involving himself in the team’s offense. And much of that was predicated on lineups. For whatever reason, Towns was pretty ineffective alongside his fellow starters (per 100 possessions), per <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/townska01/lineups/2025" rel="noopener">Basketball Reference</a>.</p><p>And the fact that Towns’ was traded to the Knicks so close to the start of last season certainly hurt his ability to adjust to his teammates and his role on the team. Remember, Towns was added just 20 days before opening night.</p><p>While it’s tough to find a comparable situation Towns’ 2024-25 season given how infrequently All-NBA big men are traded in their primes, there are a few that are similar. First, there’s Shaquille O’Neal — an admittedly much more dominant player than Towns.</p><p>While the O’Neal-to-Los Angeles Lakers trade is the first trade involving the Hall-of-Famer that comes to mind, his trade to the Miami Heat is far more relevant. O’Neal was in his prime (32) when the trade that landed him in Miami took place.</p><p>The Heat were eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals in their first year after adding O’Neal . However, Miami won the championship the following season. Sure, O’Neal’s stat line took a hit that year. But O’Neal and his teammates benefitted from a full season of building a strong rapport.</p><h2><b>How coach Mike Brown can help with Towns’ development</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Karl-Anthony-Towns-drives-to-the-basket-against-Indiana-Pacers-guard-Andrew-Nembhard-in-the-third-quarter-of-Game-6-of-the-2025-Eastern-Conference-Finals.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In addition to Towns benefiting from an increased familiarly with teammates, coach Mike Brown can also help get more out of Towns. A quick review of how Brown impacted Sacramento Kings’ forward/center Domantas Sabonis is relevant.</p><p>Sabonis was already a two-time All-Star prior to teaming up with Brown. However, a closer look reveals that Brown aided Sabonis’ development after joining Sacramento as head coach. The Lithuanian center shot a career-best 61.5 percent from the field in his first season under Brown. And he achieved and maintained near career-high three-point shooting since playing under Brown, as well. He also stepped up his rebounding. And, most importantly, he qualified for an All-NBA team in both seasons under Brown — something the Gonzaga alum hadn’t previously achieved.</p><p>Maybe Brown is simply better than coach Tom Thibodeau at maximizing his big men. And if so, maybe he can get Towns to play more consistently on offense and/or with greater effort on the defensive end of the floor.</p><h2><b>Why Year 2 for Mikal Bridges will result in improvement</b></h2><p>Towns wasn’t the only Knick who failed to gel with his New York teammates. Bridges fell into the same trap, but for different reasons.</p><p>Bridges shot an atrocious 43/29/67 shooting split in November 2024, which is the first month of the season with more than a handful of games. His shot was so bad that many hypothesized it was broken. He averaged fewer than 15 points per game in November, too — something Bridges hadn’t done in a month with 10 or more games since December 2022. And he struggled to grasp his role.</p><p>Bridges’ familiarity grew as the season progressed. He became more comfortable with his opportunities, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-pleads-tom-thibodeau-fewer-minutes">even if he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the heavy minutes he was playing</a>. And like Towns, he flourished when playing with role players, especially in the playoffs. He successfully demonstrated an ability to be the team’s primary playmaker when Brunson was resting or injured. And he looked reinvigorated by the defensive challenges he was given in the postseason.</p><p>Bridges was the Brooklyn Nets’ first option in the 2023-24 season. And his role was even more involved for most of his time with the Phoenix Suns. It’s understandable that Bridges initially struggled to understand where he fit in. But with a greater understanding of what’s expected of him, Bridges is set up for an impactful season.</p><p>Towns and Bridges are set to have better seasons given their increased familiarity with their teammates and roles, respectively. That alone should help the Knicks take the next step and possibly qualify for — and maybe even win — the 2026 NBA Finals. Granted, a lot can go wrong between now and next Spring. But the Knicks haven’t looked this good entering a season in a very long time. And a lot of that has to do with Towns and Bridges.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Year 2 of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges will push Knicks to next level

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-extension-walks-line-trade-bait-contending');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Knicks-forward-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-06T11:09:04-07:00">August 6th, 11:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-06T11:09:04-07:00">August 6th, 11:09am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In today’s NBA, a team-friendly deal, such as the New York <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-4-word-mic-drop-150-million-contract-extension">Knicks’ Mikal Bridges’ four-year, $150 million extension</a>, can always be used as trade bait down the line. That’s not to say the Knicks, who locked in Bridges alongside All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as their core for the foreseeable future, inked their elite perimeter defender for that purpose alone. However, it is worth noting.</p><p>In the NBA’s era of second-apron penalties as part of the new CBA, the Knicks do <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0L1DR6ClME&amp;t=643s" rel="noopener">have the flexibility to trade</a> for another All-Star talent if one becomes available, which ESPN’s Brian Windhorst astutely pointed out, per The Hoop Collective.</p><p>“They like this team. They made a coaching change,” Windhorst said. “They obviously believe that moving to Mike Brown might be able to get more out of this team and that they can sort of try to find some efficiencies that they weren’t getting under Tom Thibodeau, or they can maneuver. And so, I think their moves going forward with Jalen Brunson being the key, their ability to stay under the second apron, which staying under the second apron helps you with trades, because it changes what you can do.”</p><p>Coming off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in over 20 years, the Knicks are projected to make another deep playoff run.</p><p>“I think the Knicks want to walk that line of having a team that is competitive,” Windhorst added. “And having a team that, if a superstar becomes available, they can go get him and put him next to Brunson.”</p><p>Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, both on non-long-term deals, do come to mind when thinking about two of the NBA’s elite talent potentially leaving their respective teams. However, it’s difficult to say if either is a viable option for New York. However, as Windhorst mentioned, the Knicks would be an attractive destination in a potential deal with Knicks forward Mikal Bridges.</p><h2><b>Insider on Devin Booker prediction for Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Knicks-All-Star-Karl-Anthony-Towns.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-insider-devin-booker-prediction-possible-karl-anthony-towns-extension">Karl-Anthony Towns could reach an extension</a> with the Knicks after next season. It depends on how the 2025-26 campaign pans out, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned throughout his take on the Knicks’ prolonged success.</p><p>“The Knicks have the option of riding this core out, or their pathway forward is to make a trade. Mikal Bridges got extended this summer,” Windhorst said. “We have not heard anything about Karl-Anthony Towns getting extended. And I don’t think it has a commentary on Towns or the season he had.”</p><p>The Knicks will look to build off their Eastern Conference Finals appearance next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-4-word-mic-drop-150-million-contract-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Knicks-Mikal-Bridges-controls-the-ball.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-04T08:37:15-07:00">August 4th, 8:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-04T08:37:42-07:00">August 4th, 8:37am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks invested a huge haul of draft picks in Mikal Bridges, essentially labeling him as an X-factor who could help the franchise win their first championship since 1973. Although he struggled to find a consistent form in his first season with the team, the two-way wing was instrumental in the Knickerbockers’ Eastern Conference Semifinals victory over the then-reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. The organization remains confident that he can do his part to secure a parade for the city.</p><p>Bridges signed a four-year, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-how-150-million-mikal-bridges-extension-ensures-title-window-remains-open">$150 million contract extension</a> last week, solidifying himself as a key part of New York’s future. The 28-year-old <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DM50xgyuwuN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=aa470ae3-753c-4176-9904-42098b5b8974&amp;img_index=3" rel="noopener">shared a simple message</a> a few days after the huge news broke. “I love it here,” he posted on Instagram.</p><p>Bridges has accomplished plenty in the Northeast during his young life. The Pennsylvania native won two national titles with the Villanova Wildcats and gained valuable experience as a No. 1 option while playing one and a half seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, but he is determined to reach the summit of his basketball career with the Knicks.</p><p>Despite the overwhelming pressure that comes from competing in front of this intensely passionate fan base, Bridges is grateful to call Madison Square Garden his home. The fact that he gets to share the court with two of his college teammates — star point Jalen Brunson and glue-guy Josh Hart — makes this experience even sweeter. Now, the squad has to harness the feel-good vibes into a Larry O’Brien Trophy.</p><h2><b>The Knicks and their fans are counting on No. 25 to level up</b></h2><p>How Bridges performs could determine how far New York goes during the 2025-26 NBA campaign. He was efficient enough versus the Indiana Pacers the Eastern Conference Finals, but the team needed him to do a little more on both offense and defense. Fans demand more as well. Fair or not, “five first-rounders” will define his tenure in the Big Apple until he boosts the Knicks to the next level. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">This new contract</a> will only magnify the scrutiny.</p><p>Nevertheless, Bridges still enjoyed an overall productive 2024-25 season. He suited up for all 82 games, reinforcing his role as one of the league’s foremost workhorses, and averaged 17.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent shooting from 3-point land. If the 2022 All-Defensive First-Team selection can recapture the long-range potency he displayed with both the Phoenix Suns and Nets, then he should have no trouble romancing MSG in the years to come.</p><p>The Knicks will enter the next campaign as one of the two clear favorites to win the East (along with the Cleveland Cavaliers), so it is crucial that this group strengthens its on-court chemistry and bench play under <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mike-brown-hints-at-winning-formula-around-jalen-brunson">new head coach Mike Brown</a>. Ultimately, though, as is always the case, the burden falls on the men in uniform to complete the mission.</p><p>Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are the stars and OG Anunoby is the squad’s most versatile defender, but one cannot discount Mikal Bridges’ significance. This franchise is banking on him to help spark the best era of Knicks basketball in over half a century.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension

Andre Roberson

Jerami Grant

Justin Holiday

Elfrid Payton

Mikal Bridges

Frank Kaminsky

Quinn Cook

Kyle Anderson

Justin Jackson

Darius Miller

2021-22 All-Defensive

Phoenix Suns

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

1 season

Career

2 seasons

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1646247941131186177/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1644579048591376389/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1635378518178816005/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1635068845995229187/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634760237352730624/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634747043519365124/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634419986050568193/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634061160113750017/

And jhart doing everything out there to win

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
14.0	5.5	4.0	1.5	2.5

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
14.0	5.5	4.0	1.5	2.5

Mikal
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Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending

Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension

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