Mikal Bridges Reflects on NBA Finals Experience

Mikal Bridges finds himself in a familiar situation—his Suns once had a 2-0 lead over the Bucks in the NBA Finals five years back, feeling like the championship was within reach. But then, things took a turn for the worse, and they couldn’t secure another win.

“That always stays with you,” he mentioned on Sunday, just before the final, set to be held at the Garden for the first time in 27 years.

This time, the Knicks are the ones enjoying a 2-0 advantage at home. Interestingly, they are among only three teams to have won the first two games of the Finals on the road, alongside the 1993 Bulls and 1995 Rockets. Yet, Bridges remains cautious; he knows how quickly fortunes can shift.

In 2023, he joined teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on their podcast, The Roommates Show, reminiscing about past playoff memories, “We’re light here. This is East. … They ran up four in a row. It was unbelievable,” Bridges recalled.

Throughout the postseason, he has been performing well, averaging 14.6 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals, with a 38 percent success rate from beyond the arc. In the recent game, he notably contributed 20 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds.

He shared insights with his teammates about not relaxing even with a lead. “It’s the same situation, we’re 2-0 up, but I have to be able to talk to them and just keep going. We just have to stay calm and keep playing hard,” he explained following a victory over the Spurs.

On Sunday, he emphasized to his teammates, “We all know, and they understand as well, that the series isn’t over yet. We have to continue playing desperately and become an even more desperate team.”

One standout aspect of this playoff run is the Knicks’ lack of overconfidence. They have established a franchise record with 13 consecutive playoff wins, demonstrating grit even when facing challenges.

After these victories, it’s often reiterated that a different Knicks squad approaches each game as if the series is just beginning—regardless of whether they’re leading 3-0. This mindset has really propelled them.

“Personally, I don’t think I’m too concerned about the winning streak or anything like that because that’s all in the past,” Bridges reflected. “I think we’re doing a great job as a team of always recognizing that every time we win it’s 0-0 and focusing on the next game.”