Mikal Bridges, we hardly knew ya’
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
What did Mikhail Prokhorov say about Jason Kidd that time? Yeah, you too Mikal. Beloved New Jersey Nets legend Jason Kidd came back as a first-time coach in 2013 and attempted a front office coup, only to fail and be sent off to Milwaukee. The Nets got two second rounders. They had demanded a first.
Deron Williams had the keys to Brooklyn in front of Borough Hall in 2012 only to say “New Yorkers are tough or at least they think they are” before departing for Dallas.
Hometown hero Kyrie Irving created a whirlwind of issues and was gone before the Nets could even try for a second playoff series win with him. They mortgaged their future for James Harden, who quite literally quit on the team less than two years into his tenure.
Oh yeah, Kevin Durant, arguably the best player in the world in those hopeful but again failed 2022 playoffs. He demanded he be traded too.
There’s been a lot of “foes” in recent Nets history, once loved and embraced only to leave with a middle finger up to the fans and organization. No matter who’s to blame, it’s real and it’s felt.
If reports are true, Mikal Bridges is the latest to pull a dirty one on the Nets. Perhaps the dirtiest; one so nasty it makes the river he crossed look clean. A transaction between the Nets and Knicks — the first in 41 years! Talk about a dagger.
The Brooklyn Nets showered Bridges with praise, making him the face of the franchise or as Woj would put it — he who the team would build their roster around. He was the centerpiece back in the KD trade and averaged 26 points in 27 games to close out the 2022-23 season. He’s a hard worker and someone the Nets and much of the fanbase truly felt was a centerpiece towards building forward. He embodied the culture Sean Marks has sought since firing Kenny Atkinson in 2020. And he was always “untouchable” in their eyes.
Until he wasn’t.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the deal “came together quickly” after Bridges informed Nets brass that he wanted to be a Knick. No, not just be traded — be traded specifically to the Knicks as they danced on Brooklyn’s grave this past season.
The Mikal Bridges deal came together quickly after Bridges informed the Nets that he wanted to be a Knick. Bridges was prepared to sign with NYK and his side was prepared to use that leverage to keep other teams from trading for him, per SNY sources.— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 26, 2024
It gets worse! The Nets didn’t want to part with him, but his team was intent on getting him across that river.
Nets surely didn’t want to trade Mikal Bridges to NYK but Bridges’ side was prepared to force the issue by telling teams he wanted to be w/NYK, per SNY sources. Bridges’ side made it clear to BKN that he wanted to be w/NYK, reunite w/Villanova teammates Brunson, Hart, DiVincenzo— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 26, 2024
Jake Fischer put a different spin on it later, suggesting that he really didn’t ask out. Like we said, a different “spin.” But as Brian Lewis wrote Wednesday...
Sources told The Post during the season that Bridges not only wanted to get to the Knicks, but quietly angled to make that happen so he could reunite with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.
Aside from his leadership talk, it felt like he was part of the Knicks while his own team spiraled out of control. At a certain point it almost felt like he was mocking Nets fans. We all awkwardly laughed and moved on, but now it’s clear where his head and heart truly were.
Let’s start with this. A day after the Nets historic loss to the Celtics — a 50 point collapse at TD Garden Bridges appeared on Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart’s podcast and lamented how Barclays Center had become Madison Square Garden East. In discussing how Knicks fans took over Barclays Center, his friends over in Manhattan asked if it was the most extreme case. “The worst,” he replied nonchalantly.
He became detached It didn’t help with the constant back-and-forth between his Villanova teammates on social media, though that was always understood because they’re good friends.
A brutal quote from Josh Hart on Mikal Bridges, who is losing in Brooklyn as the Nova Knicks are playoff bound: “It’s like that SpongeBob meme when Squidward is looking out the window and he sees SpongeBob and Patrick having fun. [Mikal] is Squidward.” https://t.co/uX17051Hf2— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) March 23, 2024
And more...
Between W 31st and W 33rd St….want me to set things up for you? https://t.co/nYN8jE8GDW— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 13, 2024
And STILL more...
Mikal Bridges blinked. pic.twitter.com/Qv8v3KpKIV— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) June 26, 2024
All is cool until they’re out on the basketball court, smiling and hugging after the Knicks dropped the Nets to 32-49 en route to a season sweep. Bridges had five points and four assists.
@basketballcoverage Yeah it really isn’t that big of a deal but Nets fans can’t wait for this season to end #mikalbridges #joshhart #jalenbrunson #nba #fyp #knicks #nets ♬ original sound - Basketball Coverage
His tenure wasn’t long and it’s probably best for both sides. Reality is that it’s probably the best thing Mikal did for the Brooklyn Nets — bring in a haul of six future first-round picks, four of which are unprotected from the Knicks. His arrival put the Nets in limbo and his departure gives them direction, even if it’s going to take a while. We’ll take that deal for someone who was outshined by Cam Thomas all season long.
The Nets wanted to make him something he didn’t want to be, and his true colors (blue and orange) came out in the end. Will he be the fans’ biggest foe? Probably not. There’s a lot of history and a lot of people responsible for the Nets being in the position they’re in today.
But don’t expect this bridge to be mended. For whatever it’s even worth.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings