Bridges will wake up laughing in his dreams these days! He got his wish and got a four-year, $90 million deal. This is already a big success for him.
If this had been 3 years ago, who would have believed that he had such a situation?
At the 2018 draft, Bridges was selected as the No. 10 pick. Although he is a high-ranking rookie, Bridges' career path has not been smooth. In the first 2 years of his career, his performance did not meet expectations. In his rookie season, he averaged 29.5 minutes per game and averaged just 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 43 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three-point range. Prosaic. The following year, he averaged just 9.1 points, 4 boards and 1.8 assists per game.
When it comes to personal data, Bridges is unremarkable. And he was on the Suns, when the Phoenix were a weak team, and the record was very average, missing the playoffs for many years, and there was not much exposure and traffic. In this team, Bridges was once labeled a mediocre talent and gradually forgotten.
But paul's arrival last season changed that. The Sun transformed from the original Fish Belly Weak Brigade into an Alliance Powerhouse.
Paul's joining has also benefited Bridges a lot. Playing next to the old cannon, Bridges played more easily. Paul will also pass on his experience on the pitch to him. Bridges has made significant progress and transformed into the league's top 3D embryo.
Last season he exploded, averaging 32.6 minutes per game, averaging 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks, shooting 54.3 percent from the field. Many of his stats have improved significantly.
At both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, he became an important player for the Suns. On the offensive end, he doesn't have the ball and can look for opportunities by cutting through empty slots. He became the Suns' reliable outside shooter, averaging 4.4 three-pointers per game last season, hitting 1.9 shots and shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range. When he is on the court, he can open up the breakthrough space for Booker and Paul.
On the defensive end, Bridges is also particularly important for the Suns. He can tear the core of the opponent's outside attack, he is tall and long, he moves fast, it is a headache for many outside offensive players, and it is not easy to get rid of him. And he rotates to the inside line, and he can also top the opponent's big man.
As the Suns' record got better and better, more people began to re-understand the team, and Phoenix players also got more traffic and exposure. Bridges is also gradually becoming more well known, becoming the league's hottest 3D player.
Now it seems that Bridges can get a big contract, and there is really a credit for Paul.
Hopefully, Bridges will continue to work hard next season and make even more progress.