Mikal Bridges, once questioned after a regular-season slump and concerns about the Knicks’ trade value, told Jadakiss that Mike Brown and the team kept him in the right mindset—pointing to his playoff impact, highlighted by a 20-point Game 2 in the NBA Finals.
When the NBA Finals questions started stacking up around New York, Mikal Bridges answered them the way he’s been doing most of this run: with production, then with a quiet explanation for how he found his way out of the slump.
In a media availability session between games of the Finals, Bridges fielded a question from Jadakiss, the rap mogul and cohost of the ‘Joe and Jada Show,’ asking how important it was to have support from Knicks coach Mike Brown and the rest of the team as he emerged from his earlier struggles.
“Very important. Just helped me to stay in the right mindset,” Bridges said. “They helped me out a lot and staying together as a group, the biggest goal is to win … to be the best version of myself for us to have a chance.”
The timing of the answer mattered. During the regular season. Bridges had been in the midst of a slump. and that skid sparked questions about whether the Knicks overpaid for him after pulling off the trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Those doubts have cooled as the playoffs have rolled on—especially with the Knicks pushing their way through the Finals.
Bridges’ impact has been felt at key moments. In the Knicks’ Game 2 win that helped them take a 2-0 series lead heading back home. he finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from the 3-point line. He also contributed six rebounds. six assists and one steal—numbers that didn’t just support the win. they carried it.
What Bridges has looked like over the full playoffs has been steady enough to change the conversation. In the postseason, he’s been averaging 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals. His shooting has come in at 58.5 percent from the field. 38 percent from the 3-point line and 95.7 percent from the free-throw line.
With the Knicks looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, their path gets tighter. It’s the kind of situation where one player can’t just show up—he has to keep showing up. For New York, continued production from Bridges is the hinge the next step depends on.
The sequence of what Bridges has said and what he’s done fits together: the regular-season slump that fueled trade-value doubts gave way to a playoff run where his role has turned into something harder to dispute. From the message about staying in the right mindset to the shot-making in Game 2. the Knicks’ Finals push has come with his fingerprints all over it.
Mikal Bridges New York Knicks NBA Finals Mike Brown Jadakiss Brooklyn Nets trade Game 2 playoffs stats
20 points in Game 2 is crazy, so yeah he must’ve figured it out. Coaches be doing magic or something.
I didn’t know Jadakiss was asking sports questions like that lol. But honestly the article says Mike Brown helped his mindset… okay but where was this in the regular season? Knicks trading stuff always feels messy.
So basically Bridges says the coach helped him out and now he’s good… cool. But I’m confused cuz the headline says “silences doubts” like those doubts were about the Nets trade value?? Like he’s still the same player though, right? 3-0 lead is gonna be real hard if he has one off game.
Jadakiss really said “keep him in the right mindset” like it’s therapy. And Mike Brown gets the credit but the stats are what I care about. 38% from 3 is solid… but they keep mentioning Game 2 like that’s the whole series? also it says 6 assists and rebounds?? feels like a lot, maybe I read that wrong. anyway go Knicks.