Rising Star Mikal Bridges: NBA Journey, Achievements, Net Worth and Family

The basketball career of Mikal Bridges, also known as “The Catalyst,” began in the center of a city that has produced many basketball superstars. Bridges played basketball for Villanova University in college, where he rapidly became well-known for his outstanding defense, adaptability, and three-point shooting.

Mikal worked really hard and was very determined to go to the NBA. He was a top prospect for the 2018 NBA Draft thanks to his outstanding exploits at Villanova, which included two NCAA Championship victories. He was taken with the 10th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, but on draft night, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

Full Name: Mikal Bridges

Date of Birth: August 30, 1996

Nationality: American

Height: 6 ft 7 inch

Current Team: Phoenix Suns

Role: Shooting Guard/ Small Forward

Personal Life:

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mikal Bridges was born to Tyneeha Rivers and Raymond Bridges. Bridges attributes his mother with all of his accomplishments, both on and off the court. Ty-Shon Bridges and Korey Bridges are his younger brothers. Ty-Shon attended Creighton University and is presently playing professionally overseas, while Korey attended the University of South Carolina and played NCAA basketball there.

Also Read: LeBron James: Lifestyle, car collection and luxury items

Early Life:

Bridges attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he played basketball in high school. He scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds a game in his junior season. He was awarded the First Team All-Class AAAA for his senior season after averaging 18.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game.

Bridges made the decision to play basketball in college with the Villanova Wildcats. He had a 6.4 point, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game average as a rookie. For the first time since 1985, the Wildcats won the NCAA title. Coming off the bench and scoring 11 points in a Final Four blowout of the Oklahoma Sooners, Bridges played a critical part.

In his second season, Bridges started to gain a reputation as a lanky forward who could score while also providing outstanding defense on the opposing end and frequently guarded the star player of the opposing team. He shot 54 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range in a season in which he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He received one of three Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards at the end of the campaign.

Bridges’ 28 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in an 88-72 victory over Gonzaga during his junior season was a career-high. The Wildcats defeated Providence in overtime, 76-66, and he was voted the Big East Tournament’s MVP. He tied his career-high of 28 points in the championship game. Bridges was chosen to the first team of the All-Big East for the season after averaging 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds on 51 percent field goal shooting and 43.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Also Read: Chicago Bulls: Profile, achievements, early career and NBA career

NBA Journey

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Bridges with the 10th overall choice in the 2018 NBA Draft, and on draft night, they immediately traded him to the Phoenix Suns.

He started 56 of the 82 games he played in as a rookie, averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, and his strong defensive play earned him a berth on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Bridges improved his scoring average in the second season to 9.1 points per game on average while increasing his three-point shooting percentage to 36.5%.

In the 2020–21 season, Bridges’ flexibility and defensive performance helped the Suns go to the NBA Finals, where they ultimately fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. He developed into a lockdown defender as well, earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

On February 9th, 2023, Bridges was moved to the Brooklyn Nets, earning him the moniker Brooklyn Bridges. In his first game for the Nets against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bridges recorded 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Net Worth:

The guard for the Nets is thought to be valued at $10 million. Bridges had extended his deal with the Suns for four years and $90 million, securing his future with the organization, but he was eventually transferred to the Brooklyn Nets.

Achievements:

In 2016 and 2018, Mikal Bridges won 2 NCAA Championships as a team member of the Phoenix Suns. In 2022, Bridges won the NBA All-Defensive First Team Award.