Mikal Bridges, whose team missed the playoffs for the first time in four years, said he “can't wait” to get on the court with his new “Psycho” teammates.
“It's been a long offseason. I'm itching to get going,” Bridges, who hasn't played since mid-April, told a crowd of Knicks fans at an event in Central Park on Saturday night. “I'm ready to go now. I'm in action. It's been too long.”
Event host Josh Hart continued his long-running tirade against the Nets, asking Bridges how it felt to be “in a better position” after being traded to the Knicks.
Bridges told a crowd that was eager to boo whenever Brooklyn was mentioned that the Knicks got better players because he played in the Brooklyn suburbs.
“You guys should thank Brooklyn because that's what helped me grow,” he said, later adding, “Holy shit, that's where my game grew.”
Bridges was the first guest on The Roommates Show Block Party, a podcast hosted by Hart and Jalen Brunson, a live episode from Central Park.
The three-hour event was a celebration and recognition of the new hope surrounding the Knicks.
Towards the end of the night, legendary guest on “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart, made a light reference to Knicks owner James Dolan.
The audience booed, and Hart responded violently, even downing a bottle of wine during the show.
“No way. No way,” Hart told fans in support of Dolan. “We're rooting for you, baby, it's gonna be OK.”
Stewart agrees.
“What do you always say in front of Knicks fans? It's been a long time coming,” Stewart said. “Suffer no more, my friend. We're impressed.”
The Knicks haven't been to a conference finals in 24 years, but they won 50 games last year and expectations haven't been higher since Patrick Ewing was in uniform.
Failure to reach the conference finals next season will be considered a failure.
Saturday was further proof of that buzz.
The live podcast was packed into Ramsey Playfield in Central Park, where thousands of mostly young fans, most of them in their 20s and 30s, packed the field as rain clouds hovered.
Ponchos and Brunson jerseys dominated the crowd.
The highlight of the event, where admission prices ranged from $65 to $300, was an appearance by Stewart, who joked about Tom Thibodeau's fitness level and other topics.
“His zipper looks like he's working pretty hard,” Stewart said.
“Training camp is going to be hell because of this part of the interview,” Brunson responded.
Other guests included Stephon Marbury, JB Smoove of Curve Your Enthusiasm and Bridges, who reunited with his Villanova University buddies, the players he affectionately referred to as “Psychos.”
“I'm paired with a lot of psychopaths, but I'm happy to be here,” he said.
