When the New York Knicks traded for Mikal Bridges, they didn’t just acquire another versatile wing — they landed one of the NBA’s most durable and detail-oriented defenders. But what they got last season under Tom Thibodeau wasn’t the full version of Bridges. It was a slower, more methodical player forced into isolation sets instead of the free-flowing, transition-heavy style that made him thrive in Phoenix.
That’s about to change.
New head coach Mike Brown plans to hand Bridges the keys to a faster, more fluid system built on defensive reaction and pace. It’s not about reinventing him — it’s about unchaining him.
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A fresh approach to a proven workhorse
Bridges has long been one of the NBA’s ironmen, playing all 82 games in each of the last four seasons. He averaged a career-high 37 minutes per night in 2024–25, but under Thibodeau’s grind-it-out offense, those minutes often felt heavier than they should have.
Despite the volume, his scoring dipped to 17.6 points per game — his lowest mark since 2021–22. He added 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds while shooting an efficient .500 from the field and .354 from deep. The production was solid, but the joy — the spark that usually defines Bridges’ game — wasn’t always there.
Brown wants that version back, the one who defends like a sprinter and attacks like he’s been shot out of a cannon. “If a turnover happens or an offensive rebound happens, he does not hesitate or take an extra step in the opposite direction of the ball,” Brown said, via Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “Right away, his change of direction and the flip of the switch from offense to defense is amazing. Probably one of the best I’ve been around.”
The little things that separate great defenders
Brown’s praise for Bridges goes beyond the obvious. He sees the subtleties — the moments that rarely make highlight reels but win possessions. “For him to get a couple of blocks the way he did, that’s just a testament to what he can do defensively,” Brown said. “He’s a first-team all-defender. It’s evident. There’s no question in my mind what he does out on the floor. It’s a lot of the little things that he does that I hope don’t go unnoticed.”
Those “little things” are what separate Bridges from most two-way players. He doesn’t chase blocks or steals; he anticipates them. His ability to pivot, recover, and close gaps almost feels like a reflex. Watching him play defense is a bit like watching a chess player move two turns ahead — he’s already adjusted before the offense knows what’s coming.
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Building rhythm through pace and memory
Brown’s system emphasizes constant movement and mental resets — a stark contrast to Thibodeau’s rigid structure. Mistakes aren’t meant to linger; they’re fuel to push forward. “He got me really forgetting the [last] play and getting back, getting the whole team on that,” Bridges said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. He’s encouraging it every single day, putting pressure on us to do it every single time.”
That mindset could unlock Bridges’ best version yet. If the Knicks increase their pace and allow him to attack more in transition, his athleticism and finishing ability could finally shine again. He’s already shown flashes of being one of the league’s best in motion — now he’ll get to live in it.
Bridges summed it up simply: “He’s charting it, getting on us when we’re not doing it. Listening to him, he’s pushing us to the next level.”
The Knicks don’t just need Bridges to be good this year — they need him to be himself. And under Mike Brown, that might be exactly what happens.