Mikal Bridges is excited to join the Knicks: "I thought I was going to be here in 2018"

When Mikal Bridges was traded earlier in the summer, he didn't go too far. Bridges relocated his home court from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to the Mecca of hoops in the Madison Square Garden.

Despite moving just across the borough, the 2022 NBA All-Defensive first-team member is very excited to be in his new home. During his introductory conference on Tuesday, Mikal talked about playing for the New York Knicks .

"It's surreal," said Bridges. "But it's dope to be a Knick... I thought I was gonna be drafted here in 2018, and I love everything about the team."

The Knicks passed on Bridges in the 2018 NBA Draft

Mikal was on the board when the Knicks were on the podium in the 2018 NBA Draft. However, with the 9th overall pick of that draft, New York chose to draft University of Kentucky's Kevin Knox. Bridges ended up getting picked 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers and immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns.

In the Valley, Mikal blossomed into one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Although he played alongside Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton in Phoenix, he was able to showcase his offensive skills while emerging as one of the league's best perimeter defenders.

A trade to the Nets during the 2022-23 campaign showed Bridges' true offensive potential. He averaged 26.1 PPG while starting his first 26 games for the Nets to finish the 22-23 season. His numbers dropped last season, but he was still a valuable commodity given his two-way versatility and remarkable durability,

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Completing the Villanova Knicks

While it was a surprise that the Nets traded Bridges, dealing him to New York wasn't astonishing. The Knicks made a solid 2024 playoff run behind the 'Villanova Knicks.' Adding Bridges completes the reunion of Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, who helped Villanova win the 2016 NCAA men's basketball title, which many - i ncluding ESPN's Stephen A. Smith , approved of.

"I know y'all sitting out there and y'all saying, 'It's Mikal Bridges, he's a good player, but it ain't like y'all got KD or somebody,'" Smith said in a Twitter video. "Bump all that, okay? Chemistry matters, reliability matters, consistency matters, defense matters. The brother can shoot. The brother can play. I'm sorry, I like this move by the New York Knicks. He's young, he's energetic, he's seasoned, he defends, and he fits right into the culture of the New York Knicks, and that's all I ask."

While SAS is high about his Knicks landing Mikal, some aren't convinced that he is the final piece to their championship puzzle. But remember that the Knicks made their 2024 playoff run without Julius Randle, and with Mitch Robinson getting hurt, think of how good they will be to run it back with those guys healthy and Mikal added to the team. That's a good enough reason for the Knicks fan to get excited.

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