New York Knicks star Mikal Bridges builds bridges between sports.
Bridges has become known for his three-point celebration, in which he commemorates his points with various points with an appropriate three fingers. Since it’s a new introduction to Manhattan – with Jalen Brunson’s hand placed over his mouth – Bridges was through Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
The first-year Knicks provided an unlikely resource.
February 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) celebrates after scoring in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center. Mandatory credits: Wendell Cruz-Imagn images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn images
“The (San Diego) Padres,” Bridges admitted, referring to the Major League Baseball team. “The Padres did it years ago when I was in Phoenix. They would get an extra base hit, point to the dugout and turn their heads. I looked at it, looked at baseball and thought, ‘That’s something I could do.’
Bridgesa fan of Padres All-Star infield Manny Machado, has done that and more, sinking a combined 250 three-pointers over the last two seasons. He has scored 10 in the past five games, including two in his return to Phoenix when he faced his original NBA employers on Wednesday night. New York tooka 138-122 decision in a real offensive showcase.
It was a homecoming week for Bridges, who also faced two visits from the Brooklyn Nets, who sent him to Manhattan in June in a rare trade between the Crossborough rivals. He hit seven from deep in the latest edition of the long-standing pleasantries, giving him plenty of opportunities to show off his diamond-inspired celebration – much to the chagrin of his former teammates.
“It’s annoying,” Nets scorer Cam Johnson, the target of several Bridges points, said of the celebration after the Knicks’ latest win on Sunday (h/t New York Basketball on X). “It’s very annoying.”
“It’s annoying. It’s very annoying.”
–– Cam Johnson is on the receiving end of former teammate Mikal Bridges celly pic.twitter.com/3ocb9umzOI
— New York basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 18, 2024
Bridges is busy taking his party on tour as the Knicks are in the midst of a five-game road trip that continues Saturday against the Utah Jazz (5 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).
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