In recent years, many young talents have emerged in the NBA, such as The Jazz's Mitchell, nuggets' Porter Jr., and Bridges of the Suns, who have invariably contracted a maximum salary contract after the rookie contract expired, and have also become the core players of their respective teams. Today we're going to take a look back at the Suns' path to fame for small forward Bridges.
Bridges' full name: Mikal Bridges, born in 1996 in Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States. Very similar to the growth path of most NBA stars, they have shown basketball talent beyond their peers since childhood, and began to receive formal basketball training at a very young age. Bridges played four seasons in college, most of which was 2018, averaging 17.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, and was named to the third team of the All-American Team that season.
In June 2018, Bridges entered the draft and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the tenth pick in the first round to start his career. But he didn't play for the 76ers, but was sent directly to the Suns by the 76ers.
In the Suns' first season, Bridges made 82 starts as a substitute and averaged eight points and two assists in a limited 29.5 minutes, making him a reliable bench player for the Suns. Let's set the time for January 19, 2020, when the Suns take on the Celtics. Bridges won the game as a small forward and played 40 minutes, shooting 10-of-13 and 6-of-8 from three-point range, scoring 26 points and leading the team to victory. Bridges once again set a new career single-game scoring record, and his career three-point shooting in a single game also increased to six.
The Suns played against the Pacers in January 2021. Bridges played 33 minutes but scored 34 points, once again refreshing his career score, shooting 6-of-8 from three-point range again.
In May 2021, the Suns defeated the Cavaliers in the rematch of Bubble Park. Bridges started 39 minutes and finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Bridges has since become the first Suns player to score in double figures, rebounding, stealing, blocks and assists.
Bridges' excellent performance impressed the general manager of the Suns, James Jones lost no time in giving Bridges a big contract worth 90 million US dollars for four years, Bridges won such a huge contract, it took only three seasons, which is inseparable from his usual unremitting efforts, hard training, strict requirements are the key to his success, I wish Bridges can play more and more in the future career, squeeze into the ranks of superstars!