Mikal Bridges is an American basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets. He achieved success in college, winning two national championships with the Villanova Wildcats. Drafted tenth overall in 2018 by the Philadelphia 76ers, he was immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns. Bridges helped lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals and is known for his impressive durability, holding the league's active record for consecutive games played. His consistent performance and defensive prowess earned him the nickname "the Warden."
Prior to 2016, Villanova's last NCAA championship win was in 1985.
Mikal Bridges was born on August 30, 1996.
The Phoenix Suns had their best start to a season since 2009, beginning with a 7-3 record.
Mikal Bridges committed to play college basketball at Villanova University in June 2013.
Mikal Bridges became a starter for Villanova in the 2016-2017 season and earned recognition for his defensive skills.
Mikal Bridges played a key role off the bench during Villanova's 2016 NCAA tournament run.
Mikal Bridges won his first NCAA championship with the Villanova Wildcats in 2016.
Mikal Bridges was named to the preseason All-Big East second team in 2017. He would later earn first-team honors and be named MVP of the Big East tournament in 2018.
Mikal Bridges and the Villanova Wildcats secured an overtime win against Seton Hall on March 2, 2018.
Mikal Bridges declared for the 2018 NBA draft on April 10, 2018.
Mikal Bridges officially signed his rookie contract with the Phoenix Suns on July 6, 2018.
Mikal Bridges made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018, in a win against the Dallas Mavericks.
Mikal Bridges won his second NCAA championship with the Villanova Wildcats in 2018. He was then drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers and immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns.
Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 20 points in a loss against the Atlanta Hawks on February 2, 2019.
Mikal Bridges matched his career-high of 20 points on November 19, 2019, in a loss against the Sacramento Kings.
Mikal Bridges started all eight games for the Phoenix Suns in the 2020 NBA Bubble.
Mikal Bridges set a new career-high with 34 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers on January 9, 2021.
On October 17, 2021, Mikal Bridges signed a four-year contract extension worth $90 million with the Phoenix Suns, following a successful season where the team reached the NBA Finals.
Mikal Bridges and the Phoenix Suns reached the NBA Finals in 2021, where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Philadelphia 76ers traded Mikal Bridges' draft rights to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-round pick.
The Phoenix Suns received a 2021 first-round pick as part of the trade that sent Mikal Bridges to the team.
On April 26, 2022, Mikal Bridges had a standout performance in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored a playoff career-high 31 points, helping the Suns secure a 112-97 victory.
Mikal Bridges had an impressive game on November 9, 2022, scoring a season-high 31 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and contributing five assists and four steals to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 129-117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In a major trade on February 9, 2023, Mikal Bridges was traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, and multiple draft picks in exchange for Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren.
Mikal Bridges had an explosive performance on December 2, 2023, scoring 42 points, including 26 in the first quarter, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a decisive 129-102 win over the Orlando Magic.
In a December 2023 interview with GQ, Mikal Bridges revealed his long-standing dedication to Chipotle Mexican Grill, stating that he has eaten there every day for the past decade.