The New York Knicks traded five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets last summer. It was a bold trade that ultimately paid off.
The Knicks won 51 games this season and were the third seed in the East.
Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists during the regular season while shooting 50.0% from the field, 35.4% from beyond the arc and 81.4% from the free-throw line.
New York defeated the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics to advance to the conference finals this year for the first time since 2000. Although the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games, it was still a special season for the Knickerbockers.
However, there was some tension within the franchise this year.
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges
© Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
According to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic, Knicks coaches weren't happy when Bridges publicly questioned Tom Thibodeau's move to play the starters heavy minutes every night.
"In March, Bridges violated one of the no-nos in playing for Thibodeau, questioning the heavy minutes the starters played under the coach during a news conference with reporters. The comments rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way, sources said, and showed a disconnect," Edwards III and Katz wrote.
"Bridges may have been near the end of his first season with the Knicks, but he was still acting like the new guy, though the drama hardly led to anyone’s demise."
Bridges, who has played for the Phoenix Suns, Nets and Knicks, is eligible for a four-year, $156 million extension before next season.
It will be fascinating to see if New York signs the forward to a massive extension.
Bridges has never missed a game in his NBA career. He has career averages of 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists.