SHOCKING: Jalen Brunson Reveals Startling Information Regarding Knicks Partner
NBA players use this period in the offseason to vacation and decompress from basketball. So it surprised everyone when Jalen Brunson shared a priceless anecdote about his new colleague Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks. “Last night, August 16, the man stepped off the plane from London. Brunson disclosed at Fanatics Fest NYC, “And then he was in the gym this morning (August 17), bright early.” That’s all the information you need to know about him.
Approved by their roar, the jam-packed Jacob Javits Convention Center audience cheered at The Theatre. Although Bridges and Brunson are thrilled to be back together after playing together at Villanova in college, there is a lot of pressure on Bridges to perform well in the upcoming season considering what the Knicks had to give up to acquire him from the Nets over the Brooklyn Bridge.
In exchange for Bridges, who has never been an All-Star in his first six seasons in the NBA, the Knicks sent four unprotected and one top-four protected choice. However, Brunson thinks that is well worth it. According to Brunson, “he just fits the puzzle perfectly,” meaning that he is capable of doing all you ask of him and then some. And that’s the type of person he is.
On July 9, Bridges expressed this opinion at his debut press conference. “I believe I blend in quite nicely,” Bridges remarked to the press. After leading the Nets in scoring for a season and a half while averaging 21 points per game while replacing injured players Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, the 28-year-old Bridges would probably revert to his supplementary role. With OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson in the frontcourt, he is anticipated to start with Brunson in the Knicks’ backcourt.
Bridges, Mikal Anticipated to Sign a Collaborative Extension
Bridges was acquired by the Knicks on a team-friendly contract, though he is still bound for two more years. Over the next two seasons, the former All-Defensive wing will make about $48 million, which is a great deal considering his skill as a two-way player. Bridges is anticipated to do the same after Brunson granted the Knicks a hometown discount in exchange for signing a four-year, $156.5 million contract, according to Marc Stein, an NBA insider for Substack.
Additionally, according to league sources, Bridges is expected to follow Brunson’s example and sign a team-friendly contract when it comes time for him to negotiate an extension. If he waits until after the season, he may be able to secure a four-year extension. This would solidify Bridges’ position at MSG alongside Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, and fellow former Villanova teammates Brunson. Stein wrote on July 15.
Mikal Bridges’ projections for the Knicks
The Knicks are expected to be better with Bridges in the lineup after finishing with 50 wins and only one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. They are anticipated to be among the teams facing the Boston Celtics, the defending Eastern Conference champions.
The Knicks were ranked third in the East by ESPN’s panel of experts, one point behind the Philadelphia 76ers, who have added Paul George, a nine-time NBA All-Star, to their lineup. The ESPN experts ranked their top picks for the East and West — and the eventual NBA champion — awarding five points for first place, three for second, and one for third place. The Celtics are the overwhelming favorites with 97 points, while the Sixers are a distant second with 39 points and 38 points for the Knicks.