Mikal Bridges’ Resurgence: From Shooting Slump to Christmas Day Star
Just two months prior, the New York Knicks fanbase was gripped by anxiety surrounding Mikal Bridges’ shooting woes. Preseason struggles saw him shoot a dismal 2-of-19 from three-point range, prompting some analysts to declare his shot "broken." Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas publicly questioned Bridges’ decision to adjust his shooting form so late in his career. Even YouTube’s self-proclaimed "shot doctors" dissected his mechanics, highlighting a release point "significantly higher than his head" and labeling his form "wacky." These concerns amplified after a disappointing opening night performance against the Boston Celtics, where Bridges connected on only 2 of his 7 three-point attempts in a lopsided loss. Doubts arose about whether the Knicks had overpaid in the trade that brought him from their crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, particularly if his offensive output was limited to a third-option role behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Fast forward to Christmas Day, and Bridges delivered a performance that silenced the critics and ignited Madison Square Garden. Erupting for 41 points in a thrilling 117-114 victory against the San Antonio Spurs and their highly touted rookie, Victor Wembanyama (who himself scored an impressive 42 points), Bridges showcased a revitalized shooting stroke, connecting on 6 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc. His scoring outburst marked the second-highest Christmas Day points total in Knicks history, trailing only Bernard King’s legendary 60-point performance in 1984. Fittingly, King was present courtside to witness Bridges’s remarkable display.
This Christmas Day explosion wasn’t an isolated incident; it represented the culmination of a month-long resurgence. Throughout December, Bridges has been scorching the nets, shooting a blistering 47% from three-point range, coinciding with a 9-2 run for the Knicks, who improved their record to a promising 20-10. Bridges humbly attributed his success to perseverance and the unwavering support of his teammates and coaching staff. “I’m just staying with it,” he stated post-game. “And my teammates, man. All the credit to my teammates, coaches, they keep me up. They just give me confidence to keep playing my game.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau echoed this sentiment, praising Bridges’ continuous improvement throughout his career and highlighting his versatility. "Slow and steady wins the race, and that’s what he’s been,” Thibodeau remarked. “And you look at his whole career, he just keeps getting better and better and better." Thibodeau emphasized the difficulty of categorizing Bridges, lauded his ability to contribute in numerous ways, and pointed to the growing synergy between Bridges and his teammates as a key factor in the team’s success.
Josh Hart, Bridges’ former teammate at Villanova University, was particularly vocal in his defense of Bridges, calling for apologies from those who had previously criticized him. Hart emphasized the inherent fluctuations in a player’s performance throughout a season. “People gotta realize not one player in this league has a great game for all 82 games,” Hart pointed out. “There’s peaks and valleys in this league…That’s why you always try to stay even keeled.” He commended Bridges for maintaining his composure and diligently working to refine his game, adding, “Give him his flowers because he’s playing well.” Hart also underscored the significance of Bridges’ emergence as a reliable scoring threat, lessening the pressure on Brunson to carry the offensive load every night.
Beyond Bridges’ individual performance, his resurgence has had a significant impact on the Knicks’ overall success. The team has won five straight and 15 of their last 19 games, positioning them just two games behind the Boston Celtics for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks demonstrated they can thrive even without dominant performances from their star players; Towns’ 18-game double-double streak ended in the Christmas Day victory, yet the team still prevailed.
Despite his individual achievements and improved shooting, Bridges remains focused on the team’s collective progress. He emphasized the importance of continuous improvement as the ultimate goal, stating, “I think we just look at each other and just see if we get better or not…I think we took a jump this month, and, you know, every day, just keep trying to get better. You know, we want to win, that’s the main goal. But, sometimes just getting better is also what we’re looking for.” With Bridges finding his rhythm and the team gelling, the Knicks are emerging as a legitimate force in the Eastern Conference, and their future prospects look increasingly bright.
