Inside The Nets

Mikal Bridges unhappy with Brooklyn Nets' rest choices against Milwaukee Bucks

The Nets decided on resting most of their starters against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Peter Sunjic

© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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In the Nets’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the team opted to sit out most of their starters while only letting Mikal Bridges and Cameron Thomas play the full first quarter. This was a surprising move for most viewers because they expected Brooklyn to compete with a more talented lineup.

This did not sit well for Mikal, who is well-known for playing every game. He still has an active streak of consecutive games played 423 in a row, but the latest matchup against Milwaukee was bittersweet for the former Villanova Wildcat.

“The streak is, I guess, for everyone else to talk about. But I don’t just get in there for the streak. I get in there to play the game and because I want to go out there and win. I don’t go in there to just sub in, get the streak, and whatever. I just want to play,” Bridges said after losing to Milwaukee. “I guess for their purposes is why. But I’m healthy, so I don’t see why I wouldn’t play.”

Mikal is the ultimate competitor

While the streak is something Mikal is proud of, he did not want to just play 12 minutes against Milwaukee. This was Brooklyn’s opportunity to get back over a .500 record, but coach Jacque Vaughn and his staff opted to rest the 6’6” star after playing the entire first quarter alongside Thomas.

This was an “executive decision,” as Vaughn admitted Bridges was being played because of his streak. Of course, the player would have some feelings about that, given he is a competitor. He wants to play to help his team win, and being unable to do that naturally irks him.

Mikal will keep playing

When looking at the bigger picture, this is arguably the right move from Coach Vaughn. He wanted to rest his players after a grueling December when they struggled with fatigue issues. This was the opportunity for Brooklyn to rest, especially since the Bucks game was on the second night of a back-to-back.

Expect the Nets to return to normal soon, with Mikal playing most of the game again. He is frustrated at the moment, but that’s a natural reaction to what happened. 

Thankfully, the Nets bench remained competitive for most of the game until the fourth quarter. That is a good sign for the team, as Jalen Wilson and Trendon Watford made their cases to play more often.

Jacque Vaughn gives the reasoning behind sitting most of his starters

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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