The story behind Mikal Bridges' draft night trade

Mikal was surprised when he got traded after getting selected by his hometown 76ers.

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mikal Bridges was involved in a blockbuster trade that sent him from Phoenix to Brooklyn, where he plays now. However, that was not the only trade he was part of because he was involved in a draft-night deal that sent him from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Suns.

It was surprising because Philly was a perfect destination for Bridges since he grew up in Pennsylvania, and his mother worked in the 76ers organization at the time. Mikal was the perfect fit for the Sixers as he complemented All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who is coincidentally Bridges’ teammate now in Brooklyn.

“I’ve been looking at the Sixers since we were in college. That last year, how we won, how I was playing, I was like, ‘I’ll fit right into this team. They need 3-and-D, I’m cool.’ I put the hat on, I’m getting emotional, I go through the whole Philly media with my hat on,” Bridges said on the Roommates Show with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. 

“My first reaction was like, ‘Damn, I know my mom’s sick,’ First thing I thought of when I got traded.”

Bridges knew nothing about Phoenix

When he got traded, Bridges was surprised because he did not rate Phoenix highly. It was a change of pace, coming from Villanova, where Mikal won everything there was to win in collegiate basketball.

Mikal kept his anger inside because he was mad about what happened. He was supposed to play in his hometown and stay home with his mother, but it did not happen because Phoenix wanted him, and Philly valued Zhaire Smith more.

“I was mad as hell. Coach Wright actually stopped and talked to me at the end of it and was like, ‘Honestly, you did a great job, with that happening, keeping a good face,’” Mikal continued.

Bridges loved his time in Phoenix afterward

It was a rocky start for Mikal in Phoenix, but then he realized he got selected in the top ten. In the five years he played in Phoenix, he was a valuable role player and one of the league’s best defenders.

That reputation helped him become a valuable player worthy of a big contract. Mikal’s value continued to rise, enough to get traded for Kevin Durant in 2023. Now, Bridges plays in Brooklyn, which is not so far from Philly, playing with former 76ers star Ben Simmons.

Mikal Bridges does not mind having his close friends playing in the same city