<!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

<!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-how-150-million-mikal-bridges-extension-ensures-title-window-remains-open');   ga('set', 'title', 'How $150 million Mikal Bridges extension ensures Knicks’ title window remains open');   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/Mikal-Bridges-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>How $150 million Mikal Bridges extension ensures Knicks’ title window remains open</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-01T20:13:36-07:00">August 1st, 8:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-01T20:13:36-07:00">August 1st, 8:13pm</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">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks finally <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">reached an agreement on a contract extension with Mikal Bridges</a>. New York agreed to pay Bridges an <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/26976/mikal-bridges" rel="noopener">average of $37.5 million per year</a> for four years in a deal that features a player option in the final year. The Knicks team is now mostly set for the foreseeable future—and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/why-mikal-bridges-extension-for-more-than-150-million-would-benefit-knicks">it is well prepared to compete for a championship for years to come</a>.</p><p>New York was always going to prioritize a Bridges deal. Why? Because they sent out <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">virtually all of their first-round picks to add him last summer</a>. Allowing Bridges to possibly walk for nothing would be a major loss, considering the Knicks would be unable to use the money they spent on Bridges elsewhere, thanks to complications within the collective bargaining agreement. But how does re-signing Bridges and returning the core of a team that was just eliminated in the NBA Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers for the second consecutive year help the Knicks secure a title? Well, it’s simpler than it seems.</p><h2><b>After Year 1, the Knicks are set up to compete with their core </b></h2><p>The 2024-25 season was the first for this Knicks team. Bridges was new to New York, and Karl-Anthony Towns was added just prior to last training camp. So, both players had to find their place with the team. And neither was likely perfectly comfortable with their teammates.</p><p>Next year will be different simply due to repetition. The Knicks now have a (successful) season under their belt. They won 51 games and eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round. Sure, the Pacers sent them home again, but Indiana was obviously no slouch. They were a bad matchup for the Knicks, especially given former coach Tom Thibodeau’s unwillingness to tinker with lineups and his aversion to playing his bench.</p><p>Well, Thibodeau is gone. And coach Mike Brown brings with him a reputation for using more intricate offensive sets and relying more heavily on his bench. Or at least that was the case in his most recent stop with the Sacramento Kings.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mikal-Bridges-Jaylen-Brown.jpg"><figcaption>David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Mikal Bridges can tap into his upside</b></h2><p>While the entire team will benefit from familiarity, Bridges stands to benefit even more. The seven-year veteran stepped into a very unique role. He was the first option on the Brooklyn Nets two seasons ago. But he became the Knicks’ fourth option behind Brunson, Towns, and OG Anunoby.</p><p>Granted, he will probably remain the fourth option. But his versatility can be utilized in better ways.</p><p>Bridges showed his unique skill set in Jalen Brunson’s absence last season. In 12 games late in the year, Bridges averaged 22.2 points and 5.3 assists while achieving a 55-37-92 shooting split. And his ability to create for his teammates was on full display. As were his defensive abilities.</p><p>Coach Brown can unlock a different gear with Bridges, using him as a backup point guard alongside Miles McBride, as well as the starting shooting guard. He can also be the team’s small forward in a shooting-heavy lineup alongside Brunson, Anunoby, Towns, and another point guard. And Brown can run sets for Bridges—something Thibodeau rarely did.</p><p>The timing of the deal is also noteworthy. Why? Because players can’t be traded for six months after signing an extension. However, with Bridges signing on July 31, he will be trade-eligible <i>just</i> before the trade deadline. So, in a worst-case scenario, the Knicks could trade the former lottery pick if they need to shake things up. Or if a certain someone requests a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks.</p><p>But ultimately, the Bridges deal wasn’t about a trade. It was about winning the team’s first championship in more than 50 years. And considering the Knicks roster, as well as what’s wrong with the other top contenders in the Eastern Conference, the 2025-26 season (and beyond) is their best chance to win in a long, long time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How $150 million Mikal Bridges extension ensures Knicks’ title window remains open

<!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-teammate-jokes-6-million-sacrifice-150-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mikal Bridges’ teammate jokes about $6 million ‘sacrifice’ on $150 million contract');   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/USATSI_25655829.jpg"><figcaption>Mar 12, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) celebrates with point guard Miles McBride (2) after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mikal Bridges’ teammate jokes about $6 million ‘sacrifice’ on $150 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-01T07:56:59-07:00">August 1st, 7:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-01T08:01:19-07:00">August 1st, 8:01am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>New York Knicks forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">Mikal Bridges made headlines on Thursday</a>, agreeing to a four-year, $150 million contract extension. Shortly after news of the deal broke, several reporters pointed out that Bridges took a slight discount from his max extension number ($156 million) to help New York maintain flexibility and continue building its roster.</p><p>One of Bridges’ teammates, Miles “Deuce” McBride, <a href="https://twitter.com/deucemcb11/status/1951054742471225711" rel="noopener">thanked him</a> for his sacrifice.</p><p>“Manns really a team first guy, appreciate it Kal!” McBride, who will make $4.3 million next season, wrote on X with a laughing emoji.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Manns really a team first guy, appreciate it Kal! 😆 <a href="https://t.co/L6L3gSs2cn">https://t.co/L6L3gSs2cn</a></p><p>— M11es McBride (@deucemcb11) <a href="https://twitter.com/deucemcb11/status/1951054742471225711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>While Bridges’ “sacrifice” will be the source of jokes, it continues a trend of the Knicks’ top players leaving money on the table. Following two breakout seasons, Jalen Brunson agreed to a team-friendly deal last summer that came in well below his market value.</p><h2>Mikal Bridges sacrifices $6 million in four-year contract extension with Knicks</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_26162199.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Bridges’ sacrifice pales in comparison to Brunson’s. New York’s top player signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract that will begin this season. Had he finished the final year of his deal and then become a free agent this summer, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million contract.</p><p>However, Brunson was prioritizing allowing the Knicks to add to a championship core around him. Bridges is one of the top pieces that his former Villanova teammate hopes will propel New York to a championship. Yet, his first season with the Knicks was a disappointment.</p><p>Bridges averaged 17.6 points per game while shooting 35.4 percent from three, the lowest mark since his rookie season. The 28-year-old’s defense also continued to regress. Opponents scored 1.4 more points per 100 possessions during his minutes, placing him in the 36th percentile among wings, per CleaningTheGlass.</p><p>While his playoff run featured some bright moments, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-mikal-bridges-blasted-fourth-quarter-struggles-game-2-loss-pistons">Bridges struggled for the most part</a>. The offseason trade acquisition averaged 15.6 points while shooting 33.3 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game. He was noticeably hesitant to attack the basket, attempting 16 free throws over 18 appearances.</p><p>Following their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-tom-thibodeau-shoots-down-mikal-bridges-minutes-report">Bridges made headlines midway through the season</a> for criticizing his heavy minutes load under Thibodeau.</p><p>The Knicks hope that their coaching change and bench additions of Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson will help them take the next step this season. However, if New York hopes to do so, Bridges will have to live up to the hefty trade and financial commitment the team has made to him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mikal Bridges’ teammate jokes about $6 million ‘sacrifice’ on $150 million contract

<!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-rumors-mikal-bridges-in-position-land-bonkers-contract-before-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY 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/2025/07/Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY extension</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-31T20:33:48-07:00">July 31st, 8:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-31T20:33:48-07:00">July 31st, 8:33pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Mikal Bridges decided to secure a crucial <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">contract extension with the New York Knicks</a> this offseason. However, he could’ve held out on an expiring contract and obtain a bigger deal in the process.</p><p>Bridges agreed to a four-year extension with the Knicks on Thursday, earning $150 million in that span. It will start when the 2026-27 campaign starts, as he assists New York in boosting the roster with future key additions.</p><p>However, <a href="https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/rumors/2025/07/31/some-executives-thought-mikal-bridges-would-get-close-to-200-million-in-open-market/85468316007/" rel="noopener">$200 million could’ve been on the table</a>, according to The Athletic’s Fred Katz. League executives thought that the Knicks wing would’ve been more patient on the extension, waiting so he can land a bigger contract.</p><p>“Prior to this agreement, some league executives who spoke to The Athletic thought Bridges, given his history of never missing games, might play next season on an expiring contract and attempt to get closer to $200 million on the open market next summer,” Katz said.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Mikal Bridges, Knicks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/New-York-Knicks-forward-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If that seems to be the case, Mikal Bridges decided to pass on an extra $50 million for his contract to help the Knicks in the long term.</p><p>Bridges has been quite the healthy player throughout his NBA career, rarely missing games. He played every game for the Knicks last season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. He shot 50% from the field, including 35.4% from beyond the arc, and 81.4% from the free-throw line.</p><p>Bridges played a huge role in New York securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record. He had huge moments throughout playoffs, helping the Knicks reach the East Finals for the first time since 2000.</p><p>Despite losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games, the Knicks proved that they have the talent to make a Finals run. That is why they made upgrades to the bench, signing spark plug Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele.</p><p>The East will be up for grabs after Boston and Indiana suffered severe injuries with Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton down for the count. However, New York should not take this opportunity for granted as they will have a lot of expectations next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY extension

<!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-150-million-contract-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks, Mikal Bridges agree to $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/2025/07/Knicks-wing-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks, Mikal Bridges agree to $150 million contract extension</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-31T14:55:45-07:00">July 31st, 2:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-31T15:17:42-07:00">July 31st, 3:17pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks and starting forward Mikal Bridges have <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1951036775868080529" rel="noopener">agreed</a> on a four-year, $150 million contract extension that keeps him with the franchise through the 2029-30 season, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.</p><p>As he entered the offseason with just one year left on his contract, it was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/why-mikal-bridges-extension-for-more-than-150-million-would-benefit-knicks">expected that Bridges would reach a long-term agreement</a> with the Knicks. When <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">New York acquired him from the Brooklyn Nets</a> before the 2024-25 season, the organization did so with the intention of extending him this summer on a deal that is both favorable to the team and reflective of his value.</p><p>This new contract with the Knicks will see Bridges make an annual average value of $37.5 million. The 28-year-old wing was also given a player option for the final year of the contract and a 15 percent trade kicker that will activate should New York part ways with him over the next several years.</p><p>Bridges accepted slightly less than the $156 million maximum he could have received from the Knicks this offseason to help the team with its financial flexibility.</p><p>Jalen Brunson made a similar decision in 2024 when he <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1924117948668793254" rel="noopener">ultimately accepted $113 million less</a> to help New York build their roster. By making this decision, Brunson allowed the Knicks to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns and now extend Bridges on a long-term deal.</p><p>Although it may not seem like Bridges took a significant discount compared to the maximum he could’ve received, this small difference allows the Knicks to maintain flexibility under the second apron for the foreseeable future while building the back half of their roster.</p><p>The Knicks have gone all-in on their potential to win a championship, and they are looking to maximize their immediate future with this core of Brunson, Bridges, Towns, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart with the Eastern Conference wide open entering the 2025-26 season.</p><p>All five players are now under contract through the 2028-29 season, giving the Knicks a clear title-pursuit window to operate within.</p><p>This offseason, the Knicks have been busy putting together what they believe is the best roster and staff in the Eastern Conference. Aside from signing Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson for extra depth in free agency, the Knicks also made a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mike-brown-next-head-coach-tom-thibodeau-firing">key coaching change by replacing Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown</a>.</p><p>Despite Thibodeau’s success in New York, there was a need for a new, motivating voice who could give off the same passion and energy as his players display on the court. That is why the Knicks chose Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year with four championships to his name as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs (one title) and the Golden State Warriors (three titles).</p><p>Now that Bridges’ contract situation is locked in, the Knicks will turn their attention to building off their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. The Knicks have won at least 50 games in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1994 and 1995 seasons.</p><p>In 82 games last season, Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range. He has never missed a game over his seven NBA seasons, which is why many <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1944388130796159476" rel="noopener">label him as the league’s “Iron Man.”</a> Bridges will look to continue his streak with a clean bill of health entering the 2025-26 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks, Mikal Bridges agree to $150 million contract extension

<!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-extension-for-more-than-150-million-would-benefit-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Mikal Bridges extension for more than $150 million would benefit 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/2025/05/Knicks-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Mikal Bridges extension for more than $150 million would benefit Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-25T07:43:46-07:00">July 25th, 7:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-25T07:43:46-07:00">July 25th, 7:43am</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">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/new-york-knicks-2025-nba-free-agency-grades-every-signing">Knicks are mostly done with free agency</a> meaning they are ready for the 2025-26 season. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-sign-ben-simmons-someone-else-final-roster-spot">Knicks might add one more veteran via a minimum deal</a>, it is unlikely that they add anyone who will impact the rotation. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t housekeeping left to do. Specifically, Mikal Bridges is extension eligible.</p><p>And the idea that New York will look to get a deal done sooner than later is well-established.</p><h2><b>Why are Knicks motivated to re-sign Mikal Bridges now?</b></h2><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">Knicks gave up a lot of assets to add Bridges</a> last offseason. Notably, they traded away five first-round picks and a future first-round swap. Granted, the Knicks didn’t sacrifice any impact players. But losing Bridges for nothing would represent a major black eye for a team whose championship window is now wide open.</p><p>Bridges will enter unrestricted free agency next offseason. And while the Villanova connection is strong in New York, it’s unclear if the Knicks would offer the biggest contract and most enticing situation on the open market. Thus, it is incredibly important for the Knicks to lock Bridges down now while there are no other offers with which they must compete.</p><p>Knicks leadership recently spoke anonymously at Summer League about their desire to re-sign Bridges this offseason.</p><p>“We hope to get something done,” a Knicks front office executive said to members of the media. “When you make the commitment to trade for a player like we did with Mikal, you do it with the intention of them being on the team for a long time.”</p><h2><b>Mikal Bridges disappointed in ’24-’25 but shouldn’t dissuade Knicks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Mikal-Bridges-2.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Before discussing numbers, it’s important to note that the specifics of a deal shouldn’t matter—especially to fans. There is no opportunity cost in signing Bridges to a new contract. In other words, if New York chose to let Bridges walk, they <i>cannot</i> use that money elsewhere due to specifics of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).</p><p>Sure, Bridges production didn’t meet expectation in 2024-25. He started off incredibly slowly. But he was still an important piece to the Knicks’ success. The 28-year-old <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bridgmi01.html" rel="noopener">played in all 82 games</a>, <i>again</i>. And he still performed well, averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game.</p><p>While Bridges had a slow start, especially shooting the ball, he shot a respectable 60/37.5/92 shooting splits through the final 20 games of the season. In other words, he settled down and became more comfortable over time.</p><p>That’s to be expected when a player changes teams and systems. And Bridges looked even better in the playoffs, where he posted similar stats but secured a few playoff wins with crucial defensive plays and big shots.</p><h2><b>What might a new Mikal Bridges’ contract look like?</b></h2><p>The 2025 offseason has been weird thanks to the relatively new CBA. The punitive second apron has resulted in an interesting free-agent environment. It has seen above-average veterans bought out and re-signed elsewhere for bargain prices.</p><p>It has also led to a number of younger players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Paolo Banchero signing max extensions. However, Bridges is in a unique situation. He is still very much in the prime of his career. But he doesn’t possess unlimited, untapped upside.</p><p>Ironically, the most similar player to Bridges who signed a deal this offseason might be Julius Randle. The former Knick signed a three-year, $100 million deal. But Bridges will probably command a bit more.</p><p>The seven-year veteran is eligible for a four-year, $156 million deal that can start as high as $34.9 million in the first season. Maybe he takes a slight discount to benefit the team. But it’s unlikely he takes anywhere near the discount that Brunson accepted. Regardless, fans should get used to the idea of Bridges signing a $150 million deal.</p><p>The Knicks must take another step forward next season. If they fail to advance to the NBA Finals, they might face a major trade that breaks up their core. Bridges, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and co. are probably the Knicks’ best shot to win their first championship since 1973.</p><p>If Bridges can achieve a slightly bigger or more consistent role under new coach Mike Brown, the Knicks could be Eastern Conference—and maybe even NBA—champions. If he doesn’t succeed, Bridges—along with everyone not named Brunson—could see their names in trade rumors.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Mikal Bridges extension for more than $150 million would benefit 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/boston-celtics/nba-rumors-celtics-want-mikal-bridges-type-trade-package-derrick-white');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Celtics want ‘Mikal Bridges-type’ trade package for Derrick White');   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/2025/04/Derrick-White.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Celtics want ‘Mikal Bridges-type’ trade package for Derrick White</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T07:03:49-07:00">June 29th, 7:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T07:11:43-07:00">June 29th, 7:11am</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/colinloughran">Colin Loughran</a>Colin Loughran is a NYC-based Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He has spent several years covering sports and has worked for outlets such as the New York Post, AP Radio, and FanSided. Colin is also a three-time NYSBA award winner and a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The offseason has already brought about <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/brad-stevens-reveals-celtics-foundation-amid-jaylen-brown-derrick-white-trade-rumors">significant changes for the Boston Celtics</a>, and more modifications could be coming if another squad is willing to shell out major assets for Derrick White. It has been reported for a while now that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-rumors-boston-evaluating-jaylen-brown-derrick-white-trade-interest">teams have been calling the Celtics</a> about a White trade, and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported Saturday on what it would <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/more-of-the-nba-free-agency-and-trade" rel="noopener">likely take for a deal to even be considered</a>.</p><p>“Speaking of the Knicks: Sources say Boston told at least one rival team that it would have insisted on a ‘Mikal Bridges-type’ package to part with Derrick White, league sources say. The Celtics have certainly received no shortage of inbound trade calls on both White and Jaylen Brown in recent days, but nothing got serious on either front,” Fischer said.</p><p>The Brooklyn Nets infamously got five first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and more in the Bridges deal, so that’s what the ballpark would be for a White trade. This latest development comes shortly after it was reported by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/sources-raptors-offer-celtics-no-9-pick-derrick-white-trade">Toronto Raptors had offered Boston the ninth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft</a> as part of a larger framework for White.</p><h2><b>Celtics value Derrick White amid retool</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Derrick-White-looks-on.jpg"><figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The 30-year-old guard has been a consistent spark plug for the Celtics since joining the team in 2022. Across 76 games last season, White averaged 16.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 38.4 percent from distance.</p><p>Rumblings regarding White’s future are not entirely surprising. The Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday earlier this month. While both players were members of the 2024 championship effort, their departures allowed Boston to move out of the second apron and avoid harsh tax penalties.</p><p>In total, Boston received Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang, and three second-round picks in the deals that sent Holiday and Porzingis to the Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks, respectively.</p><p>Factors such as Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, a new ownership group, and the general age of the team have encouraged Brad Stevens and the rest of Boston’s front office to tweak their roster and attempt to retool.</p><p>White has been a fan favorite, and while the Celtics are constructing a new look, it will take a king’s ransom for another team to acquire the guard.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Celtics want ‘Mikal Bridges-type’ trade package for Derrick White

<!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/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-explore-mikal-bridges-trade-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Grizzlies should explore Mikal Bridges trade with 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/2025/06/Why-Grizzlies-should-explore-Mikal-Bridges-trade-with-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Grizzlies should explore Mikal Bridges trade with Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-16T12:49:11-07:00">June 16th, 12:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-16T12:49:11-07:00">June 16th, 12:49pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/how-grizzlies-ja-morant-improved-offensively-under-tuomas-iisalo-stats">regrouping Memphis Grizzlies are in an interesting position</a> after being swept from the postseason. Ja Morant figuring out the Oklahoma City Thunder before getting undercut by Lu Dort provided a little comfort going into the summer break. However, to truly contend in the Western Conference, EVP/GM Zach Kleiman thought a shake-up was needed. There is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">no other way to interpret trading Desmond Bane</a> for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and a handful of future first-round draft picks. Mikal Bridges (New York Knicks) may be just the addition to help prop up this championship window.</p><p>Thankfully, Kleiman now has the assets to swing for the fences without breaking the bank to round out the roster. Memphis has the draft capital and young talent to be a formidable player in trade talks, but remember, the front office found it easy to pass on Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant at the deadline. New York made little headway on in-season improvements as well. Now? The Grizzlies are truly going in a different direction; the Knicks face luxury tax concerns with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns signed long-term.</p><p>Bridges is extension-eligible (approx. $155 million) and may demand more than New York can allocate, given how the Eastern Conference is shaping up. The Knicks need draft picks and a quick pivot. For the Grizzlies, second-tier talent that allows for future flexibility makes more sense than having Giannis Antetokounmpo on the shopping list, especially if <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/exclusive-grizzlies-santi-aldama-cheat-day-diet-plans-based-around-ud-las-palmas-la-liga">Santi Aldama is sent elsewhere in a sign-and-trade</a> deal.</p><p>Early reports had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/sources-grizzlies-news-memphis-getting-mentioned-two-lowkey-big-men-league-circles-nba-offseason-trade-rumors-all-star-big-men">Lauri Markannen and Domantas Sabonis</a> as potential options. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/sources-blazers-deni-avdija-emerges-serious-grizzlies-trade-target">Deni Avdija is also on the radar</a>. Several Eastern Conference options would address weaknesses while preserving the core as well. If fans want to start picturing the next starting lineup to run onto the FedEx Forum floor, start there when playing with the various NBA trade machines.</p><h2><b>Building with Mikal Bridges</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mikal-Bridges-Knicks-Ja-Morant-Grizzlies.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Making Leon Rose’s New York Knicks say no to Brandon Clarke, Cole Anthony, or Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, plus John Konchar, GG Jackson, three first-round picks, and two second-rounders must be on Kleiman’s to-do list. Mikal Bridges is an All-Defensive wing who can score 20+ points per game and take pressure off Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant on both ends of the floor. His two-way play would make the Grizzlies an instant contender. The remaining bench players and surplus draft capital can then be offered up for Lauri Markkanen or Deni Avdija to push Memphis over the top.</p><p>Bridges, a soon-to-be 29-year-old two-way wing, averaged 19.1 points (46.7% FGA, 36.9% 3PA) over the past three seasons. Elite defense and durability (474 consecutive games played) are worth a few current high schoolers to be named later. Despite a slightly underwhelming offensive fit in New York, his ability to guard top wings addresses some defensive problems in Memphis (19th post-All-Star break). Bridges would be a significant upgrade over sticking with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, going by the stats alone.</p><p>Kleiman could land Tuomas Iisalo another All-Star piece without completely gutting the core. The Knicks would have roster flexibility, tax savings, and a bench for whenever they find a head coach. Memphis might need to include Zach Edey or additional draft capital to seal the deal and keep the Ja Morant-Jaren Jackson Jr. duo together, especially if the Knicks demand a premium to recoup what they paid to get Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets.</p><p>Seats are getting hot in Tennessee as the Grizzlies are one move away from being a true contender. By leveraging draft capital and bench-bound role players, Memphis can add a high-impact starter who elevates their ceiling without sacrificing their core. Mikal Bridges is one of the easiest ways to get there. His defensive prowess, efficient scoring, and cultural fit make him an ideal target. With the Knicks potentially open to trade talks and Zach Kleiman’s Grizzlies possessing the assets to make a deal, now is the time for the front office to act.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Grizzlies should explore Mikal Bridges trade with 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/nba-stories/nba-news-mikal-bridges-jokes-go-wild-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mikal Bridges jokes go wild after Magic, Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane trade');   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/2025/04/Desmond-Bane-Alex-Caruso.jpg"><figcaption>© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mikal Bridges jokes go wild after Magic, Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-15T09:52:27-07:00">June 15th, 9:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-15T09:52:27-07:00">June 15th, 9:52am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NBA world had something to talk about as the Orlando <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">Magic made a trade to acquire Desmond Bane</a> from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony. The thing that may have caught everybody’s attention in the trade is the Magic sending away four first-round picks for Bane, as some think that it may have been a hefty price for him.</p><p>The first person that came to mind for people on social media was Mikal Bridges, who was traded to the New York Knicks last season for five first-round picks.</p><p>“Mikal Bridges can finally rest,” <a href="https://x.com/Kazeem/status/1934267332526059670" rel="noopener">one user wrote</a> on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>“We live in a world where Mikal Bridges and Desmond Bane are worth four 1st round picks and Luka Doncic is worth one,” <a href="https://x.com/nea1__/status/1934267535509123234" rel="noopener">another user</a> wrote.</p><p>“Magic needed a shooter badly but 4 unprotected Firsts is almost as bad as the Mikal Bridges trade,” <a href="https://x.com/RamonIsHim/status/1934267507789250626" rel="noopener">a third user</a> wrote.</p><p>For the Knicks, the trade to get Bridges may have been bad in hindsight, but they were able to get to the Eastern Conference Finals in the same year. If the Magic want to feel validated for this trade, they’re going to have to get past the first round of the playoffs, something they’ve failed to do the past two years.</p><h2><b>Magic trade for Desmond Bane</b></h2><p>The Magic knew that they were going to need to make a big move to increase their chances in the Eastern Conference next season, and that’s what they did. There had been rumors that they were looking to make a trade, and Bane may be a perfect fit for the team, regardless of how much it took to get him.</p><p>Last season, the Magic were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league, and Bane has been one of the best shooters since coming into the league. That alone, plus his defense and playmaking, will make him an important piece to their roster. With the uncertainty of the Eastern Conference, the Magic pushed all their chips to the front and are looking to make some noise.</p><p>For the Grizzlies, it’s not that surprising that they went this route of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/bold-memphis-grizzlies-trade-ideas-land-nba-all-star">trading one of their core players</a>, and some more deals might be on the way. Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony are two solid role players, and they can be a big part of what the Grizzlies are trying to do if they’re done making trades.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mikal Bridges jokes go wild after Magic, Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane trade

<!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/ranking-5-mikal-bridges-trade-destinations-if-knicks-blow-it-up');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking 5 Mikal Bridges trade destinations if Knicks blow it up');   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/Ranking-X-Mikal-Bridges-trade-destinations-if-Knicks-blow-it-up.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking 5 Mikal Bridges trade destinations if Knicks blow it up</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-05T23:18:44-07:00">June 5th, 11:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-05T23:18:44-07:00">June 5th, 11:18pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-leon-rose-reason-firing-tom-thibodeau">New York Knicks made a drastic change</a> earlier this week when they decided that Tom Thibodeau, after leading the team to four winning seasons in the five years he was in charge, was not the right man for the head coaching job moving forward. They justified this move by saying that, for them to take the necessary next step towards title contention, a change was necessary.</p><p>It’s not quite clear what this means for the Knicks’ roster, however. This roster looks like it was built for Thibodeau specifically, and now that he’s been relieved of his duties, the other dominoes could begin to fall. The most likely trade candidate among the members of the team’s core is Karl-Anthony Towns, with the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-rumors-teammates-frustrated-karl-anthony-towns-defense-execution">team reportedly being frustrated over his defensive struggles</a> in the playoffs.</p><p>But if push comes to shove and the Knicks decide to remodel the team completely, someone like Mikal Bridges, who will be in the final year of his contract next season, could end up being on the trade block yet again. This is unlikely, as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">Knicks paid a king’s ransom</a> to bring him in last year. Alas, crazier things have happened in the NBA before. If Luka Doncic can be traded away, then anyone can.</p><p>Bridges is the exact kind of player every contending team needs — a versatile wing who can guard multiple positions, hit open threes, and do a little bit of self-creation off the dribble. There should be no shortage of suitors for him in the event that he becomes available.</p><p>Here are the best trade destinations for Bridges if the Knicks do decide to blow it all up.</p><h2><b>5. Oklahoma City Thunder</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Knicks-forward-Mikal-Bridges-with-Knicks-head-coach-Tom-Thibodeu.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There will be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/thunder-vs-pacers-ranking-15-best-players-nba-finals">no reason whatsoever for the Thunder</a> to make any seismic changes if they manage to go all the way in the 2025 NBA Finals. They have the perfect roster for today’s NBA. They have an MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a secondary star in Jalen Williams, a frontcourt that can match up against any other team in the NBA thanks to the Chet Holmgren-Isaiah Hartenstein partnership, and an army of long-limbed defenders in Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace who can hound opposing stars and cover a ton of ground.</p><p>This is the only reason why the Thunder rank this low as a potential trade destination for Bridges. OKC may be the only team in the NBA who would take a look at Bridges and decide not to trade for him even if given the opportunity. They should be very content with the 3-and-D core they have on the roster.</p><p>Nonetheless, if the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/3-reasons-pacers-will-stun-world-by-beating-thunder-in-2025-nba-finals">Thunder end up being upset by the Indiana Pacers</a> much like the Knicks were, they have the draft capital, young talent, and NBA-ready pieces to dangle in a potential Bridges trade. Bridges is a much better offensive player than Dort is and he is in the same league defensively; the only thing is that Bridges is two years older than Dort.</p><p>As the old adage goes, the rich only get richer. In this instance, this much is true. But this is far from a realistic scenario, hence their placement of fifth on this list.</p><h2><b>4. Philadelphia 76ers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bridges-leaves-the-floor-1.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The 2024-25 season was an outright disaster for the 76ers. They began the season with both Joel Embiid and Paul George on the mend, and they simply did not stand a chance to get in the swing of things. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/76ers-news-fans-clown-paul-george-for-mia-first-half-vs-nets">George also looked very much washed up</a> for the majority of the season.</p><p>And while Embiid’s injury woes cast such a dark cloud on the 76ers’ future, there are also some very bright spots for them to hold on to. Jared McCain was brilliant before he tore his meniscus, while Quentin Grimes broke out into one of the best volume shooters in the NBA before the 76ers held him out of action for being too good just so they could keep their pick.</p><p>If they can get some of their veterans to <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/yearly">accept their player options</a>, they could package those players along with a few draft picks (the 2028 Los Angeles Clippers could be of value) as well as McCain in exchange for Bridges. Bridges was a 76ers draft pick before he was traded on draft night, so this would be a long time coming.</p><p>Bridges also gives the 76ers some sort of insurance. He never misses any games, unlike Embiid and George, so that should at least give Nick Nurse some peace of mind and some roster stability.</p><h2><b>3. Detroit Pistons</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Mikal-Bridges-tries-to-get-past-Cade-Cunningham.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Pistons showed this year that they are a few pieces away from being a legitimate contending team. In the weaker Eastern Conference, if a playoff team manages to stay away from the injury bug, they can end up mounting a deep playoff run. Just ask the Pacers, a team that’s remained healthy over the past two seasons, positioning themselves quite well to contend for a championship. And now, they’re in the NBA Finals.</p><p>Having 3-and-D wings is a necessity for any contending team; the Thunder would not have gotten to where they are now without their defensive core on the perimeter, while the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-indy-jalen-brunson-stopper-andrew-nembhard-changed-game-6">Pacers would have been eliminated a long time ago</a> if it weren’t for Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard. The Pistons don’t quite have the right pieces around Cade Cunningham just yet.</p><p>Ausar Thompson cannot shoot. Tobias Harris, while a helpful combo forward, isn’t who comes to mind when the topic of 3-and-D players is brought up. Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway are flamethrowers, but they struggle defensively at times. Jaden Ivey has shown promise defensively, but he is coming off a brutal leg injury.</p><p>Bridges is the exact archetype of player the Pistons need. His time moonlighting as the Brooklyn Nets’ number-one option expanded his offensive game, so it’s not like he’ll be 100 percent reliant on Cunningham for his offense, and he’ll form quite the menacing defensive duo with Thompson.</p><p>Detroit also has plenty of draft capital and a few young players they can dangle to entice the Knicks in a potential trade.</p><h2><b>2. Houston Rockets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jalen-Green-on-April-30-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Thomas Shea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/nba-rumors-rockets-still-holding-out-hope-mikal-bridges-trade">Rockets have long coveted Bridges</a>, and they were even reportedly willing to give up Jalen Green, as well as the Nets’ very own first-round picks, to bring him in. Bridges would be an offensive upgrade over Dillon Brooks without being a defensive downgrade, and he would be such a perfect fit in head coach Ime Udoka’s defense-first system.</p><p>They could entice the Knicks in a potential trade using some of their draft capital (they have the Phoenix Suns’ future draft picks) as well as some of their young prospects (Green? Jabari Smith Jr.? Tari Eason? Reed Sheppard?). For the Knicks to trade Bridges to the Rockets, however, they will have to hit a reset button of sorts, which they may not be inclined to do especially after Jalen Brunson took a paycut for the team’s greater good.</p><h2><b>1. San Antonio Spurs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Knicks-forward-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If there’s any team that would benefit the most from the addition of Bridges from the Knicks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-victor-wembanyama-jaw-dropping-stats-in-recent-games">it’s the Spurs</a>. He would be such a huge upgrade over Harrison Barnes, and a quartet of him, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Victor Wembanyama would be such a nice core to build a winning team around.</p><p>Perhaps the Spurs could offer a package build around Devin Vassell as well as a few first-round picks to entice the Knicks. But again, the Knicks invested so much in Bridges that they will not be giving him up for pennies on the dollar. Regardless, if San Antonio could pull off this miracle, they should be well-positioned to contend in the West despite how unforgiving that conference is.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking 5 Mikal Bridges trade destinations if Knicks blow it up

<!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-grabs-attention-first-ig-post-ecf-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ Mikal Bridges grabs attention with first IG post since ECF loss');   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 grabs attention with first IG post since ECF loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-05T18:25:08-07:00">June 5th, 6:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-05T18:48:24-07:00">June 5th, 6:48pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Mikal Bridges may have noticed the criticism that went his way following the New York <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celebrity/knicks-news-jalen-brunson-star-players-party-it-up-after-playoff-exit">Knicks’ exit from the Eastern Conference Finals</a>.</p><p>Bridges served as a consistent two-way player throughout the course of the 2024-25 season. He had strong plays as a perimeter shooter and defender as he benefitted the Knicks on both sides of the ball.</p><p>His efforts allowed New York to make a deep playoff run to the East Finals, the franchise’s first appearance since 2000. However, their remarkable run came to an end as they lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games.</p><p>Bridges received criticism for his struggles throughout the series, being unable to provide scoring on an active basis. A week after the team’s season came to an end, he <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiEq7fhJtV/?img_index=1" rel="noopener">made a social media post</a> on Instagram that showed his thoughts with his season officially over.</p><p>“Some will hate you, some will love you .. Once you figure out what you can control, honestly i aint have a caption and im just chattin about a whole lot of nothing,” Bridges said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiEq7fhJtV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading"><div style="padding: 16px;"><p> </p><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p> </p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiEq7fhJtV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" rel="noopener" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mikal Bridges (@mikalbridges)</a></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>What lies ahead for Mikal Bridges, Knicks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mikal-Bridges-and-Tyrese-Haliburton.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It’s notable that Mikal Bridges called out the noise from his critics, as he completed his first season with the Knicks.</p><p>Bridges played the entire season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. He shot 50% from the field, including 35.4% from beyond the arc, and 81.4% from the free-throw line. In the playoffs, he produced 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest.</p><p>There is no doubt that Bridges helped the Knicks have their best season in decades. However, it is clear that New York won’t settle for the East Finals as they are aware that their talent is capable of playing in the NBA Finals. In other words, they will retool to find more players to boost their depth and elevate their ceiling to be in the conversation.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/what-knicks-next-coach-must-do-be-successful">Knicks will enter the offseason</a> on the search for a new head coach. They fired Tom Thibodeau after five seasons, meaning a new era of New York basketball is on the way.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
16.0	5.3	4.0	1.0	1.7

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
16.0	5.3	4.0	1.0	1.7

Mikal Bridges news

Mikal
Bridges news