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Can Mikal Bridges Stay Hot for Knicks?

Mikal Bridges is figuring things out for the New York Knicks. Is it sustainable?

Jeremy Brener

Dec 1, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives to the basket in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Dec 1, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives to the basket in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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New York Knicks wing Mikal Bridges has had an up-and-down start to his first season with the franchise.

While he has been mostly underwhelming, Bridges turned a corner earlier this week against the New Orleans Pelicans, offering hope that he can get out of his slump.

The Athletic reporter Law Murray questions whether Bridges can sustain this kind of success.

"Bridges had his first 30-point game with the Knicks in a blowout win against the Pelicans on Sunday, which also was Bridges’ first game of the season in which he made more than four 3s. Even in that game, Bridges failed to attempt a free throw; he has only made 8 of 13 at the stripe to go with a career-low 33.1 percent from 3. New York rarely takes Bridges off the floor, and it’s not like he has been a bystander out there. But everyone will be watching to see how Bridges progresses with his shot and aggression as a Knick," Murray writes.

Bridges, 28, is averaging 16.3 points while shooting just over 33 percent from beyond the 3-point line. That's less than what he was making and scoring last season with the Brooklyn Nets, where he was the No. 1 option.

Bridges has been forced to adjust his style from primary scorer to secondary or even tertiary, but it's a role that he has played before in the NBA, so the Knicks feel confident that he can replicate that in New York.

That doesn't mean there wouldn't be an adjustment, but it looks like Bridges is slowly but surely finding his way out of this slump.

Bridges and the Knicks are off tonight, but they will be back at home tomorrow when they take on the Charlotte Hornets. Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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