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Mikal Bridges became a trivia answer on May 25 when helping the New York Knicks advance to the 2026 NBA Finals.
Bridges is the first player from the Phoenix Suns' 2020-21 NBA Finals squad to make a return to the finals.
He averaged 18.5 points on 57.4% shooting in the Eastern Conference finals in helping the third-seeded Knicks sweep the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It’s definitely a blessing to be a piece of the puzzle, especially in this organization,” said Bridges after Game 4, in which he posted 15 points on 16 shot attempts, five assists and three rebounds in a 130-94 wallop.
“Like (Jalen Brunson) said, just grateful to be in this position. The organization believing in me personally, bringing me over here," Bridges said.
Bridges was a key cog for the Suns in their run to the 2021 finals in his first postseason.
Phoenix took down the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 Western Conference finals in six games. The Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the finals, 4-2.
Devin Booker is the only player from that team still with the Suns.
Bridges was Phoenix’s fourth-leading scorer at 13.5 points a game during the 2020-21 season. He was a fan favorite for his defense, 3-point shooting and energy.
Bridges was the 10th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 draft, but was then traded to the Suns. He was with Phoenix from his 2018-19 rookie season until he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in the blockbuster Kevin Durant deal before the 2023 trade deadline.
The Knicks then acquired Bridges in the summer of 2024 in a trade in which they sent the Nets a stunning five first-round picks.
Bridges faced immediate pressure to perform in New York and has received criticism for not playing at a high level, considering what the Knicks yielded to land him.
Averaging 14.4 points in his second regular season in New York, Bridges struggled early in the 2026 playoffs to the point Knicks coach Mike Brown decreased his minutes.
Bridges shot 3-of-10 in a Game 2 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. He followed that with a scoreless effort and three turnovers in a Game 3 loss in Atlanta.
The 6-foot-6 forward has since bounced back with a string of strong playoff performances.
Bridges scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in New York’s 140-89 closeout blast over the Hawks in Game 6.
He averaged 17.5 points on 63.8% shooting in the second round as the Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers. New York has won 11 straight playoff games in reaching the finals for the first time since 1999.
New York will face the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The series was tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on May 26 in Oklahoma City.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mikal Bridges a Suns trivia answer in return to NBA Finals
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Bridges is the first player from the Phoenix Suns' 2020-21 NBA Finals squad to make a return to the finals.
He averaged 18.5 points on 57.4% shooting in the Eastern Conference finals in helping the third-seeded Knicks sweep the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It’s definitely a blessing to be a piece of the puzzle, especially in this organization,” said Bridges after Game 4, in which he posted 15 points on 16 shot attempts, five assists and three rebounds in a 130-94 wallop.
“Like (Jalen Brunson) said, just grateful to be in this position. The organization believing in me personally, bringing me over here," Bridges said.
Bridges was a key cog for the Suns in their run to the 2021 finals in his first postseason.
Phoenix took down the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 Western Conference finals in six games. The Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the finals, 4-2.
Devin Booker is the only player from that team still with the Suns.
Bridges was Phoenix’s fourth-leading scorer at 13.5 points a game during the 2020-21 season. He was a fan favorite for his defense, 3-point shooting and energy.
Bridges was the 10th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 draft, but was then traded to the Suns. He was with Phoenix from his 2018-19 rookie season until he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in the blockbuster Kevin Durant deal before the 2023 trade deadline.
The Knicks then acquired Bridges in the summer of 2024 in a trade in which they sent the Nets a stunning five first-round picks.
Bridges faced immediate pressure to perform in New York and has received criticism for not playing at a high level, considering what the Knicks yielded to land him.
Averaging 14.4 points in his second regular season in New York, Bridges struggled early in the 2026 playoffs to the point Knicks coach Mike Brown decreased his minutes.
Bridges shot 3-of-10 in a Game 2 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. He followed that with a scoreless effort and three turnovers in a Game 3 loss in Atlanta.
The 6-foot-6 forward has since bounced back with a string of strong playoff performances.
Bridges scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in New York’s 140-89 closeout blast over the Hawks in Game 6.
He averaged 17.5 points on 63.8% shooting in the second round as the Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers. New York has won 11 straight playoff games in reaching the finals for the first time since 1999.
New York will face the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The series was tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on May 26 in Oklahoma City.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mikal Bridges a Suns trivia answer in return to NBA Finals
Continue reading...
