Getty Image / Ethan Miller
The New York Knicks made a huge trade on Tuesday, bringing in Brooklyn Nets star wing Mikal Bridges for a whole host of draft picks. After agreeing to a deal to re-sign another wing in OG Anunoby to a monster contract on Wednesday, the Knicks are clearly all-in.
Mikal Bridges has been arguably the most durable player in the league since entering the NBA as a member of the Suns in 2018. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau loves to play his guys a ton of minutes dating back to his days as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, meaning that Bridges is going to have that durability tested.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is a friend of Bridges from their time together on Team USA in the past, and claims to have a group message with members of the ‘Nova Knicks in Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Mikal Bridges.
“I have a group chat with those guys—me, Mikal, Josh & Jalen—so if there’s ever some tampering evidence needed, I’m the guy to come to”
— 😆 Tyrese Haliburton pic.twitter.com/R3Sdm6NA4h
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 26, 2024
On the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, the young Pacers star claimed that Thibs is going to to test the human ability of Mikal Bridges’ durability.
Tyrese Haliburton on Mikal Bridges now playing for Tom Thibodeau: “Mikal Bridges has missed like no games… We’re testing the human ability here, because we’re getting— Mikal Bridges don’t miss any games, and Thibs almost play him 48 minutes, so who’s gonna win”
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He’s got a point, as Thibodeau is definitely going to test Bridges in terms of minutes played. When the Knicks were shorthanded in the playoffs this year, he was routinely playing Josh Hart 48 minutes a game, and once he played all 53 minutes in an overtime game.
Mikal Bridges has not missed a single game in his six-year NBA career, playing all 474 games he could have. He’s played around 35 minutes a game the last four seasons, so it’s not like he’s getting a lot of rest, either. But, Tom Thibodeau can wear down any player.
If he and the rest of his Knicks teammates stay healthy, it’s a team that can absolutely win an NBA Championship next year.