Jalen Brunson is undoubtedly the king of New York basketball today. He has evolved into a borderline superstar who has helped make the New York Knicks relevant again after the franchise endured years of being laughingstocks.
While Brunson has emerged as the most talented player for a Big Apple-based squad today, that wasn't the consensus around a year ago. Andre Iguodala even recently shared his previous belief that Mikal Bridges, formerly of the Brooklyn Nets, deserved that distinction.
"I think Mikal is perfect alongside Jalen Brunson to allow Jalen to be Jalen," Iguodala said on "7PM in Brooklyn" while discussing the current state of the Knicks. "They both complement each other very, very well. And I know I spoke on this: I thought Mikal Bridges was the best talent in the city of New York. Now, obviously, Jalen has proven me wrong."
Bridges before crossing the bridge to Manhattan
No one would have faulted Iguodala for believing before that Bridges was more talented or a better player than Brunson.
The 27-year-old swingman displayed during the latter part of the 2022-23 season why the Nets should be hopeful even after trading Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. He put up 26.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in his first 27 appearances in a Brooklyn uniform.
Around the same time, Brunson had also emerged as a reliable go-to guy for the Knicks, finishing the 2022-23 campaign with averages of 24.0 points and 6.2 assists per contest.
However, the following season saw the stars diverge paths. While Jalen continued to improve on his way to securing an All-NBA Second-Team selection, Bridges struggled a bit, saying after the regular season ended that his " headspace wasn't as mentally strong ." Some people could even say that Josh Hart, his and Brunson's Villanova University teammate, had a more impactful season.
Related: Thanasis Antetokounmpo on Charles Barkley saying he only has a job because of Giannis: "The thing is, some kids believe that"
A Wildcats reunion
Now, the three of them, including another former Wildcat, Donte DiVincenzo, are together after a possible case of tampering helped Bruonson and Hart save Bridges from Brooklyn jail. However, all it needed to bail him out from the Nets was a haul of future draft picks courtesy of the Knicks.
Has the deal made New York a legitimate title contender? The jury's still out, especially since the squad will have to prove capable of taking down the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, and other East contenders. But Mikal providing the team with another scary two-way player should make fans hopeful that the Knicks can go further than their second-round trips in the past two postseasons.
Despite Iguodala praising Bridges for seemingly being a great fit in New York, some folks around the league are skeptical that it would result in title contention. Brunson and his buddies will look to prove them wrong.
Related: Mike Breen on why Mikal Bridges is the perfect fit for the Knicks: "He's young, and he can grow with these guys"
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