標籤: Mikal

Josh Hart came to Mikal Bridges’ defense as Mikal Bridges struggled with shooting issues during the New York Knicks’ 2025-26 campaign.

Bridges is going through the eighth season of his NBA career, his second with the Knicks. This campaign has been different for the star wing as he is taking fewer shots per game. Since the All-Star break, entering Sunday’s win over the Washington Wizards, he was averaging just 10.4 points on 40.6 percent shooting and 31.3 percent from downtown.

Hart spoke to the New York Post about Bridges’ effectiveness on the court this season. He supports his star teammate, believing in his ability to persevere and continue to make big plays in big games.

“He’s doing what he’s asked. And I’ve said this before – when you’re a guy who’s been [with the Brooklyn Nets] When you’re the No. 1 guy and he’s calling those plays for you,” Hart said.

“Last year, there weren’t many plays called for him. This year, there’s probably even less plays called for him. So obviously there’s a mental hurdle that he has to overcome and that’s something where some of us can help him. I think he gets some unfair criticism because he’s doing what he’s asked. And if we sit there and say, shoot 15 shots a game, he’ll be efficient and he can do that. But that’s not the case. Asked him.”

Josh Hart, what’s next for the Knicks

Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges know it will take a lot to lead the Knicks to success, especially when they are competing for a title.

New York has a 47–25 record on the season and is in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, while trailing the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

With six consecutive wins, the Knicks will continue to prepare for their next match at home. They will host the New Orleans Pelicans as tip-off takes place on March 24 at 7:30 pm ET.

The New York Knicks found themselves in an unexpected spotlight as Andre Iguodala called out Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges over their lack of NBPA participation. This moment raised deep questions about a player’s responsibility beyond the court.

Speaking on The Roommates Podcast, Iguodala didn’t hold back. Instead, he highlighted the difference between leadership and participation, engaging Nix directly in that conversation. As a result, the message was clear. Work outside the court also matters.

“I want to talk about C.J. McCollum,” Iguodala said. “They’re getting a lot of criticism for the second apron and I always ask people, what do you wish CJ did differently? Because we know what a lockout is like, and we don’t want people’s money to be wasted. We reach out to people all the time, and what do people say? I’m busy, I don’t want any extra work.”

This disappointment arose when Iguodala turned to younger voices. “When I talk to other people, like we need you in these meetings. ‘I want to play Call of Duty, I want to go out.’ Mikal…that’s my young boy. I say, ‘Mickle Dawg, if you’re one of the smart players in the league, so is he (Josh Hart), we need y’all.’

Knicks highlight a lack of leadership the league can’t ignore

The tone was not personal. Instead, it felt urgent. Andre Iguodala, now the executive director of the NBPA, called it a structural issue. Players profit from deals and criticism results. However, the fewer steps in the process. As a result, tensions arise and risks arise, with the Knicks now becoming part of that broader conversation.

Meanwhile, the respect for Hart and Mickle Bridge remains. Intelligent. Winning player. Proved under pressure. Yet, leadership at the grassroots demands more. meetings. For a long time. No headlines.

The crowd sees the final product. Contract. Rule. Wealth. What they don’t see is the work behind it.

So now the question remains. If the next generation doesn’t step up, who will carry the burden when it matters most for this Knicks group?

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks’ 18-point comeback win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night delivered a thrilling finish. The defensive intensity of Karl-Anthony Towns led to the lead in the fourth quarter, which set up Jalen Brunson to save the day. However, with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter, head coach Mike Brown continued a controversial trend of late games by sending Mikal Bridges to the sideline.

The coach replaced the starting wing with Landry Shamet, telling reporters after the game that assistant coach Rick Brunson deserves credit for the idea. Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons, Bridges sat the last 9:31 of the game. He also finished contests on the bench in late January and early February against the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively.

Bridges replaced Towns in the final five seconds of the game, allowing New York’s four-point lead to focus on defense. But the 29-year-old wing, whom Leon Rose and the Knicks front office signed to a $150 million extension this summer, spent much of the crisis on the bench.

They saw Brunson destroy Houston’s defense with Josh Hart sitting to make way for the newly acquired Alvarado. The Brooklynite recorded his third, fourth and fifth steals of the game in those minutes, made just one of three late shots, but provided the energy and aggression New York needed to shut out Kevin Durant’s group.

Bridges repeats Celtics playoff magic with clutch 3-pointer vs. Bulls

On Sunday night, in the Knicks’ second leg of the weekend, the team defeated the Chicago Bulls. Bridges closed out the six-point victory, hitting a key 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to seal the victory. However, by then, Wing had only eight points on 3-9 shooting in over 29 minutes of playing time. A clutch 3-pointer pushed him into double figures and saved the Knicks’ night.

From not playing at all to stabbing Chicago in the back, the combination of late-game roles played by Bridges represents more than the ups and downs of Sunday night. Provides two-way wing performance that includes frustrating plays in quarters, halves or entire games. But, somehow, he often finds a way to make up for it in the end.

In each of the team’s first two games against the Boston Celtics in last year’s playoffs, Bridges won the Knicks the game with incredibly timely defensive play. The second of those games featured a perfect example of Bridges’ extreme swing. The Wings failed to score in the first three quarters, but scored 14 points and made the game-winning defense in the fourth.

Bridges’ early-game struggles and late-game heroics on Sunday night did not give New York a win with playoff-level significance. But it further demonstrated the wing’s zero-to-hero range. Under a new coach in Brown, the Knicks are leaning into their depth as Bridges wanted last season. Players, including Bridges, may not view finishing a game on the bench as an insult.

His competitive nature should allow him to use any tough times benching as motivation. Just because someone like Shamet or Alvarado was red-hot inside doesn’t mean a certain starter’s play was unacceptable. Sometimes, the two coincide. Ultimately, the Knicks shouldn’t care.

Brown has stressed the importance of “finding ways to win” and will likely continue to do so during the season. It’s something their group needs to pursue with equal enthusiasm, no matter who is on the court.