SAN ANTONIO
Jalen Brunson was once seen as an undervalued second-round draft pick, but he has emerged as a surprising superstar. Josh Hart, who was traded three times in just six seasons, has transformed into a favorite for a championship contender. Then there’s OG Anunoby, who seemed to miss more games than he played in Toronto, yet now draws comparisons to the iconic Dave Debusschere.
Mikal Bridges, who was weighed down by the expectations tied to five first-round picks, struggled to meet them—until recently.
In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Bridges had a rather subdued performance, but things took a turn in Game 2 where he scored 20 points, hitting 8 of 13 shots and making 4 of 6 three-pointers. He added 6 rebounds and 6 assists, making significant contributions on both ends of the court in a tight 105-104 victory over the Spurs.
Throughout the game, Bridges was unusually expressive, cheering loudly and celebrating each crucial moment with his teammates on the sidelines. He dominated the offense for a stretch, racking up eight consecutive field goals through the second and third quarters, though it’s worth mentioning that he missed his last four attempts as the Knicks fought to maintain their lead in the fourth quarter.
Bridges’ teammates recognize his contributions. Karl-Anthony Towns remarked this week about Bridges’ value to the team, emphasizing that external opinions don’t matter. “Our job is to lift him up,” Towns said, stressing the importance of positivity and support.
“He’s always been there when it counts,” Towns added, recalling Bridges’ standout moments against Boston last year during the postseason, which underscored his significance to the team’s success.
Bridges sealed a previous game against Cleveland despite only going 4-of-16 from the field, ending a seven-game shooting streak. In the opening game of the Finals, he attempted just 6 shots, his lowest in recent memory. Yet, quickly bouncing back, he filled the gap left by Brunson’s less efficient day, finding his stride to nail his first four three-pointers after struggling early on.
In a matter of weeks, Bridges has transformed his narrative, shifting from an overrated figure facing scrutiny to becoming a crucial component for the Knicks, impactful on both sides of the court.
As the Finals progressed, Bridges entered averaging 18.7 points with an impressive shooting percentage over 62%. This came after a challenging moment when he was benched during Game 3 against Atlanta.
