HoopsHype: NBA execs believe Nets’ Mikal Bridges can be an All-Star next season
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges has a chance to become an All-Star next season, according to a recent article by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. In the piece that details many pressing matters regarding the Nets as they navigate this offseason, one of the sections detailed what executives around the NBA think about Bridges.
Bridges came to Brooklyn in the deal that brought superstar Kevin Durant to Phoenix. After being traded to the Nets, a deal that caught Bridges off-guard to a certain degree, the former Villanova Wildcat showed more of what he was displaying with the Suns amidst their rash of injuries affecting players like Devin Booker. Bridges showed that despite having to dedicate some of his energy to the defensive end, he could still contribute on offense at a high level.
After averaging 17.2 points per game on 46.3% shooting from the field and 38.7% from three-point land with Phoenix, Bridges averaged 26.1 points per contest for Brooklyn while shooting 47.5% and 37.6%, respectively. He showed that he could be more than just your typical high-level 3-and-D wing as he consistently showed the ability to make plays for others and take over games. Here’s what an NBA scout had to say about Bridges according to HoopsHype:
“Between the draft and getting traded to Brooklyn, a lot of guys got more publicity than he did,” the NBA scout told HoopsHype. “Mikal might be a skinny dude with a big smile, but he’s also from Philly. Nobody holds a grudge quite like a Philly guy. Mikal’s been waiting to unleash how pissed he’s been for being traded from a contending team (Phoenix). Even though he said he knew why they traded him and he would’ve traded himself for Durant too, it doesn’t change the fact that he could be pissed off about it. He’s obviously still pissed off about the Philly trade, which he’s openly said he’s still pissed at.”
