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Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Mikal Bridges reveals surprising way he found out about Knicks trade

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/9/24

The New York Knicks held their introductory news conference for Mikal Bridges on Tuesday, and the newest edition of the " Nova Knicks" revealed the surprising way he learned about his late-June trade from the Brooklyn Nets.

Mikal Bridges was at Desmond Bane's lakehouse when he found out he'd been traded to the Knicks pic.twitter.com/sTSfNEG1Gs
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) July 9, 2024

"I was just visiting Dallas for a little bit, working out with [Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith] at the time. I actually saw one of my close friends, Desmond, (Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard) Desmond Bane, and I was actually with him [when I found out]," Bridges said. "We [were] chilling by his little lake house and just chilling with his family and stuff and then the news broke. It was, I think it was dark outside or something, but it was crazy. It was wild. [Bane's] just over there screaming from afar like 'Yo, did you see?!' I was like 'This is crazy!' So, it was cool."

The Philadelphia native said on Tuesday that he originally thought he would be drafted by the Knicks in 2018. New York instead chose Kevin Knox with the ninth overall pick, and Bridges was selected by the 76ers with the 10th selection before being traded to the Phoenix Suns.

Mikal Bridges: “Very excited to play at the Garden. Kind of thought I’d be here in 2018, that No. 9 (draft pick).” Bridges adds that he’s looking forward to playing in front of the fans at MSG.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 9, 2024

Mikal Bridges on if he ever thought the Knicks would trade for him as Josh Hart publicly recruited him: "No, I did not think (so). It's surreal. But it's dope to be a Knick. .. I thought I was gonna be (drafted) here in 2018, and I love everything about the team."
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 9, 2024

Bridges played four seasons at Villanova, winning the 2016 national title alongside Knicks teammates Donte DiVincenzo, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The quartet spent the 2016-17 season together before Hart graduated, and the rest of the group won another championship in 2018.

Since being drafted, Bridges has been among the most durable players in the NBA, along with the Golden State Warriors' new acquisition, Buddy Hield.

Bridges has never missed a game in his six seasons and led the Nets in minutes per contest (34.8) during the 2023-24 campaign. He also paced Brooklyn in three-point field goals per game (career-high 2.7) and was second in scoring (19.6 points per game) last season.

Bridges reunites with three of his college teammates and goes from a rebuilding Nets team to a top contender in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks will have the NBA-champion Boston Celtics to deal with in 2024-25, but certainly give Bridges a better shot at his second chance at a title than Brooklyn would've. Bridges started with Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder during the Suns' run to the 2021 NBA Finals before they fell in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks.

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