Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mikal Bridges
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Mikal Bridges made an impact.
Mikal Bridges is an American professional basketball player currently with the New York Knicks. He achieved significant success at Villanova University, securing national championships in 2016 and 2018. Drafted tenth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2018, he was immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns. With the Suns, he reached the 2021 NBA Finals. In February 2023, Bridges was traded to the Brooklyn Nets and subsequently traded to the Knicks in July 2024. Known as "the Warden," Bridges is notable for his exceptional durability, holding the NBA's active record for consecutive games played without missing a single game since his draft.
June 2013: Committed to Villanova
In June 2013, Mikal Bridges committed to Villanova, ranked as the 82nd best player nationally by ESPNU.
2016: Started Every Game
Coming into the 2016-17 season, Bridges was slated to be the team's sixth man but started every game after Phil Booth went down with a knee injury in November.
2016: Won NCAA Championship
In 2016, Mikal Bridges and his teammates won the NCAA championship, the school's first since 1985.
March 2, 2018: Scored 23 Points Against Seton Hall
On March 2, 2018, Mikal Bridges scored 23 points in an overtime win against Seton Hall.
April 10, 2018: Declared for NBA Draft
On April 10, 2018, Mikal Bridges announced his intention to declare for the 2018 NBA draft.
July 6, 2018: Signed with Phoenix Suns
On July 6, 2018, Mikal Bridges signed a 4-year, $17.6 million rookie-scale contract with the Phoenix Suns.
October 17, 2018: NBA Debut
On October 17, 2018, Mikal Bridges made his professional debut in the Suns' regular season opener.
2018: Won National Championship
In 2018, Mikal Bridges won a national championship with the Villanova Wildcats.
February 2, 2019: Season-High 20 Points
On February 2, 2019, Mikal Bridges recorded a season-high 20 points in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
November 19, 2019: Matched Career-High 20 Points
On November 19, 2019, Mikal Bridges matched his career-high of 20 points in a loss to the Sacramento Kings.
2020: Started in NBA Bubble Games
In the 2020 NBA Bubble, Mikal Bridges started in all eight games for the Suns.
January 9, 2021: Career-High 34 Points
On January 9, 2021, Mikal Bridges set a new career-high of 34 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers.
October 17, 2021: Contract Extension with Suns
On October 17, 2021, Mikal Bridges and the Suns agreed to a 4-year, $90 million rookie contract extension.
2021: Reached NBA Finals
In 2021, Mikal Bridges was part of the Phoenix Suns team that reached the NBA Finals.
2021: Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers
In the 2018 NBA draft, Mikal Bridges was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers and subsequently traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Zhaire Smith and an unprotected 2021 first-round pick.
2021: Traded to the Phoenix Suns
Mikal Bridges was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA draft and was subsequently traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the draft rights to Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-round pick.
April 26, 2022: Playoff Career-High 31 Points
On April 26, 2022, Mikal Bridges scored a playoff career-high 31 points in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
November 9, 2022: Season-High 31 Points
On November 9, 2022, Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 31 points in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
February 9, 2023: Traded to Brooklyn Nets
On February 9, 2023, Mikal Bridges was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
February 2023: Traded to Brooklyn Nets
In February 2023, Mikal Bridges was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
December 2, 2023: Scored 42 Points Against Magic
On December 2, 2023, Mikal Bridges scored 42 points against the Orlando Magic, with 26 of those points coming in the first quarter.
2023: Member of United States National Team
In 2023, Mikal Bridges was a member of the United States national team that competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
2023: NBA Player of the Week
On April 3, 2023, Mikal Bridges took home his first NBA Player of the Week honor in his career.
July 6, 2024: Traded to New York Knicks
On July 6, 2024, Mikal Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks.
July 2024: Traded to the New York Knicks
In July 2024, Mikal Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks.
October 22, 2024: Knicks Debut
On October 22, 2024, Mikal Bridges made his Knicks debut, scoring 16 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics.
2028: Traded to Brooklyn Nets
On February 9, 2023, the Suns traded Bridges to the Brooklyn Nets, along with Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 first-round pick swap in exchange for Kevin Durant and T. J. Warren.
