"I'll just seem like a fraud" - Mikal Bridges explains why he did not take the max when he signed his extension

Mikal Bridges left $6 million on the negotiating table when he signed a four-year $150 million contract extension with the New York Knicks last July.

Although it wasn’t that much, Bridges not maxxing out at an age when players are supposed to accumulate as much wealth as possible while they can still command max deals came as a surprise.

During the Knicks media day, Bridges explained that he wanted to do his part in helping his team build a better team around their young core.

“The biggest thing I think, if I came here and preached so much about how I want to win and try to take every dollar and make it difficult for the organization, then I’ll just seem like a fraud. And that’s not who I am. You know I want to win bad, whatever it takes,” said Mikal.

A member of the Villanova Knicks

Bridges came to the Knicks via a trade in the summer of 2024 to join college teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo on the same NBA team. Although DiVincenzo was later traded, the trio of Brunson, Bridges and Hart or the “Villanova Knicks”, formed the core of the current New York squad along with Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.

Last season, they led the Knicks to their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. However, after losing in six games to an Indiana Pacers team that had more depth and firepower, the Knicks were left going back to the drawing board after head coach Tom Thibodeau was fired. With management deciding to run it back with the same core, Bridges felt he had to do his share to make the team better and everybody happy.

“Like I said, I love all the guys here. Why would I not want the next man up that needs the money, why would I not give him the opportunity to get paid as well? So, I think I got a good amount of money. I think a couple of more “M’s” wouldn’t change my life. So I think it would be better to help everybody else out,” he stated.

Brunson also took a discount, a massive one at that

Interestingly, Bridges isn’t the only Villanova Knick who took a discount. It can be recalled that team captain Jalen Brunson showed the way by settling for a four-year $165 million contract extension in July 2024 when he could have waited one year to sign a five-year $269 million deal this summer.

Brunson also said he did the same to give the Knicks financial flexibility to build a contender around him.

As a result of the discounts taken by their stars, the Knicks were able to sign Jordan Clarkson in free agency. They were also able to add Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet with the hopes that they can match the depth that not only the Pacers have but also the Oklahoma City Thunder in a potential Finals showdown.

With Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton injured, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Knicks are the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference next season.

Although the Cavs have better odds right now, the Knicks’ depth has improved and if Mike Brown plays his cards right, the sacrifices of Bridges and especially Brunson might pay off this year.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“I’ll just seem like a fraud” – Mikal Bridges explains why he did not take the max when he signed his extension

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