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New York Post
Knicks’ Mikal Bridges trade shocked Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart: ‘Never thought it would happen’
By Bradley Locker,
16 hours ago
The Mikal Bridges blockbuster trade surprised fans — and even his former college teammates and new Knicks running mates.
On the “Roommates Show” podcast they co-host, Knicks guards Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart opened up about their reactions to the team adding Bridges from the Nets.
“I never thought it would happen,” Brunson said. “When’s the last time the Nets made a trade with the Knicks?”
Jalen Brunson was surprised by the Knicks’ deal with the Nets for Mikal Bridges. Roommates Show/YouTube
Hart not only provided an answer to the aforementioned question — 1983 — but also delved deeper into his own initial skepticism of New York even having the chance to acquire Bridges.
“You don’t think it’s really going to happen, but you’re like, ‘You know what? Let me just go mess with ‘kal,’” Hart said, referring to postgame discussions in matchups between the Knicks and Nets. “Because that’s my guy.”
Hart added that his distrust stemmed from Nets fans trolling him on social media.
“Nets fans just be saying random stuff all the time,” Hart quipped.
Mikal Bridges was the centerpiece of the first Knicks-Nets trade since 1983. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Knicks president Leon Rose made the far-fetched hypothetical a reality when he pulled the trigger on a deal to land Bridges on June 25, sending the crosstown rivals Bogdan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, five first-round picks, a second-round pick and a pick swap.
Brunson, Bridges, Hart and fellow Knick Donte DiVincenzo were all part of the 2015-16 Villanova squad that won the national title, although Bridges and DiVincenzo were more limited bench pieces.
Josh Hart was immediately trolled by Nets fans on social media after the trade. Roommates Show/YouTube
Despite losing Hart to the league, Brunson, Bridges and DiVincenzo returned to claim the program’s second championship in three years in 2018, with Brunson winning National Player of the Year.
Jay Wright’s products weren’t teammates again until 2023 — when Brunson inked a four-year, $104 million deal to come to the Knicks and Hart was acquired by the team in a trade with the Trail Blazers.
The college recruiting pitch clearly held appeal to DiVincenzo, who signed with the Knicks for four years and $46.8 million in 2023.
Bridges will switch boroughs as he reunites with his two-time national champion teammates. Paul J. Bereswill
In the Knicks’ first year of the Villanova triumvirate, the team went 50-32, posting ther best record since 2012-13.
Brunson paved the way, his 28.7 points per game, helping him become a first-time All-Star and finish fifth in MVP voting.
Despite having the former Wildcats standouts and other solid players in O.G. Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein and Deuce McBride, the depleted Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers in a thrilling seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Former Villanova teammates Brunson, Hart and DiVincenzo helped the Knicks make their second straight Eastern Conference semifinals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
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