The Brooklyn Nets made one of the more interesting trades in recent NBA history when they traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns for a package including forward Mikal Bridges. While Brooklyn was trying to remain a playoff contender with Bridges on the roster, they traded him to the New York Knicks last offseason, but Bridges is appreciative of his time with the Nets.
“I’m just appreciative of wherever I came from. [Brooklyn was] just one stepping stone where I was at before I was here. So just appreciative,” Bridges said of his time in Brooklyn, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. Bridges had some of the best production of his career during his time with the Nets and it seemed that his usage in Brooklyn set him up to be a key contributor with the Knicks.
“I think every time I play Brooklyn, I just think about how my life changed when I got there — when I got traded from Phoenix to there, just how my life changed from that situation. I had a great time [with the Nets],” Bridges continued. “Obviously, we were losing games the last year I was there. But, I never take it for granted — the time I had there, the connections I had and built with the young guys who are there now that I was teammates with.”
Bridges, 29, averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 44.7% from the field and 37.3% from three-point land during his time in Brooklyn. While the Nets were unable to continue their winning ways with Bridges on the roster, it was clear that Brooklyn did the right thing by trading him to New York two years ago in exchange for a bevy of first-round picks.
Bridges found himself in a position to do more than what he was asked to do more than what the Suns were requiring from him when they were competing for championships. However, Bridges seems to be fond of his time with the Nets, similar to what Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford said of his time in Brooklyn, showing the good impression that the team has made on its former players.