On Monday, Mikal Bridges hosted three single mothers and their families at the Garden. As Bridges’ guests, the families had special access to the Knicks’ pregame warmups that night. They watched the Knicks beat Toronto in a private box.
Bridges had 14 points and five assists in the win. But it seemed like the time he spent with those single-mother families on Monday meant more to Bridges than anything that happened on the court.
“I grew up with a single mother (Bridges was raised by his mother, Tyneeha Rivers) so I know how much those mothers go through,” Bridges said. “And I don’t even know (the full) extent because there’s stuff my mom did that I probably don’t know to this day….So it’s good to be in this position to give back and show them maybe not everyone sees (the mothers’ sacrifice) but I see it and let them know that we appreciate you.”
Bridges met the families through the Garden of Dreams Foundation Adopt-A-Family Program. In addition to a night at the Garden, Bridges gave the mothers and their families 55 gifts, covering their entire holiday wish list.
“It’s awesome just to be able to be in a position to do that,” he said.
Two days after delivering holiday cheer to those families, Bridges gave 19,000 Knicks fans a gift they’ll never forget.
He scored 41 crucial points in New York’s Christmas Day win over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Bridges’ scoring kept the Knicks in a game where his teammates missed 23-of-30 threes. He scored or assisted on 13 points in the final seven minutes to help New York erase an eight-point deficit.
“It was special, man. He picked a hell of a day to do it,” Karl-Anthony Towns said of Bridges. “Super proud of him.”
Bridges’ big day landed him in the Knicks record books. He now owns the franchise’s third-highest scoring total on Christmas Day. He’s also been compiling a strong case for Eastern Conference Player of the Month.
Entering play Wednesday, Bridges was averaging 21 points on 56 percent shooting (44 percent from 3) in December.
His play this month is a stark contrast from his first five weeks as a Knick. He averaged 15.5 points but shot just 30 percent from beyond the arc (six attempts per game). Bridges’ first impression led some fans and media to question the Knicks’ decision to send five first-round picks to Brooklyn to acquire him.
Josh Hart never questioned the trade. He routinely – and confidently – told those fans and media that Bridges would be just fine.
“That’s my brother. I know what he can do. I know his mindset,” Hart said when asked why he was confident that Bridges would turn things around. “People gotta realize not one player in this league has a great game for all 82 games. There’s peaks and valleys in this league. There’s going to be high points, there’s going to be low points – that’s why you always try to stay even-keeled.
“He’s a guy that did that. He put the work in. When you see someone put the work in you know what he’s capable of, you know the character that he has. We knew that, we knew it was just a matter of time before he kind of found it. Now he found it and ya’ll not saying nothing. Get some damn apology forms out. I’ll be collecting them next game and give him his flowers because he’s playing well. Let the flowers be as loud as the hate.”
Tom Thibodeau doesn’t have to fill out an apology form. If the head coach was concerned about Bridges’ early season performance (there were certainly some Knick people who were worried about it), Thibodeau never expressed it publicly.
“They say slow and steady wins the race, and that’s what he’s been,” Thibodeau said Wednesday. “If you look at his whole career, he just keeps getting better and better and better. What is he? It’s hard to put him in a box because he does everything. He can run the floor in transition. He moves extremely well without the ball. He knows how to create advantages. You can put him in pick and roll. He’s smart. There’s so many intangibles that he brings to the team. It’s creating big advantages for us.”
ANYONE’S GAME
Wednesday was another example of the Knicks’ depth. With Jalen Brunson missing shots (7-for-23, 0-for-5 from three) and Towns in foul trouble, it was Bridges who carried the Knicks home. Towns has carried the Knicks on other nights. Brunson, of course, has put the team on his shoulders (see the win in New Orleans earlier this month).
But compared to last year’s team, this Knick roster doesn’t have to rely as heavily on Brunson’s nightly scoring.
“When he goes out there, more times than not, he’ll give us 25 very efficiently, at least. When that happens, all good,” Hart said of Brunson. “But when we’re able to scratch out wins when he’s not shooting the ball well, it shows the depth of this team. For him, he doesn’t care. His main agenda is to win and he’s happy with that.”
ALL HART
Speaking of Hart, he was excellent against San Antonio. He had 12 points, 12 rebounds (six offensive) and six assists. His effort – and offensive rebounds – in the final minute helped seal the win.
“Just go out there and try to make a play. That possession is the definition of my job and why I’m here,” Hart said. “To make those energy, extra effort plays.”
The Knicks also got a lift from OG Anunoby, as he was switched onto Wembanyama midway through the fourth and held the young Spurs star scoreless the rest of the way.
“There’s only one guy like him,” Thibodeau said “You can play him on a point guard, you can play him on a center. And so it’s his gift. He’s got great anticipation. He’s got great will to do it. He’s got great feet. He’s got quickness, anticipation, and he’s got length. And it’s hard to throw the ball over him. And if you mess around with it, he’ll take it from you. So that’s a huge advantage. Very unique.”
Read the full article here
