Mikal Bridges says it still hasn’t sunk in that they’ll miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but that’s the harsh reality for the Nets.
Brooklyn will play its final three games of the season this week, starting with its final home game against the fellow eliminated Raptors on Wednesday night at Barclays Center.
“It’s not fun at all,” Bridges said after Tuesday’s practice in Brooklyn. “It hasn’t really hit me yet. It’ll probably happen once the season is over, but it’s not fun.
“Obviously you want to keep playing. The last time you were here [in a non-playoff situation]that [was] This is probably his second year in the league with the Suns. Yeah, I don’t want it to end in April. ”
Bridges, 27, who was acquired from Phoenix at last season’s trade deadline in a blockbuster move for Kevin Durant, has two years left on his contract guaranteed and a salary cap hit of $23.3 million in 2024-25.
Asked about how he will approach the offseason and the long-term direction of the franchise, Bridges said he fully expects to return to the Nets.
“Yes, 100 percent. I don’t think I’m going to look anywhere else,” Bridges said. “I’m not thinking about the contract at all. Just work hard and come back, and my biggest thing this summer is to be better than this year. Take a lot of what I’ve learned.
“Obviously it wasn’t what I wanted, it wasn’t what we wanted as a team, but I can’t really lament that. I didn’t play my best. It’s cool. People might hate me, but , go to the gym, get better and learn from it. My intention is definitely to stay here. I don’t have anywhere else to be.”
Bridges has appeared in all 79 games and is averaging 20.0 points per game, which is down from the 26.1 points he scored in 27 games last spring after being traded.
This helped the Nets secure a spot in sixth place in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs, but they were swept by the 76ers in the first round.
The Nets will conduct a coaching search this summer after Jacque Vaughn was fired in February after a 21-33 record and Kevin Ollie was named as his interim replacement.
The Nets are in 11th place in the East Division with a 10-15 record and 31-48 overall under coach O’Ree, who led his alma mater, Connecticut, to the NCAA championship in 2014.
Asked if he wanted to be consulted on the coaching search and personnel changes this summer, Bridges said:[Whatever] They want, dude. Just trying to play basketball.They know I want to win, and [they will] Find the best players who can help us win. ”
Meanwhile, the former Villanova star said he has to “keep attacking every day” until the regular season ends with a road game against the Knicks (Friday) and a game against the 76ers (Sunday).
“The season isn’t over yet, so we just have to continue to play strong and finish strong,” Bridges said. “At times like this, especially outside of the playoffs, you feel relaxed, so just stay put and keep going.” [finish] The season is going well. ”
Bridges, who was selected as one of 12 finalists for the league’s Teammate of the Year award, knows the finals will be about learning more about young players like Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson. He said there was.
Wednesday night is also the team’s Fan Appreciation Night for Barclays fans.
“It’s tough this season. We lose a lot. [even though there were] We have a lot of expectations this year,” Bridges said. “But the fact that they’re here even when we’re not playing our best shows. [they are] A true fan.
“Some people may not be real fans, but [those] Even though they don’t show it to me when I’m losing, I’m still grateful to the people who came. [while] We’re just trying to figure this out and everything. ”
