Knicks wing Mikal Bridges says his durability comes from wanting to be on the floor every day and from the mindset that you can’t “leave a window open” for someone to take your spot—remarks delivered to New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears during NBA Fin
Mikal Bridges understands how rare his run has become—and he’s not pretending it’s accidental.
While he was on assignment as one of the NBA’s guest reporters during the New Orleans Pelicans’ trip to the NBA Finals. rookie guard Jeremiah Fears sat through media availability sessions and asked the Knicks wing what his secret is to staying durable through the grind of the regular season. The question landed. and Bridges answered with the kind of practical philosophy that sounds almost routine—until you match it to the numbers.
“I just want to be out there … just want to grow every day, be better. It’s kind of how I was raised. kind of how when I was in high school. college. my coaches always preached playing every game even if you’re banged up a little bit. They make you play,” Bridges said. “I think subconsciously knowing how the league goes … the more I think about it. never ever. leave a window open for someone to take your spot. I think that’s kind of been subconsciously staying on my mind ever since I first got in the league.“.
He added that the mindset runs deeper than simple toughness. “I always play no matter what. but I think that’s just another aspect that kind of got to me was always just you never know. You never know how you might go out for a week or two and maybe the next guy steps up and maybe the team plays better … the organization might look at you a little bit different.”.
The streak he’s describing is the kind fans stop taking for granted. Bridges has played in all 82 games for the past five seasons. Across his eight years in the NBA, that includes a remarkable stretch where he played in 83 games during the 2022-23 season.
That 83-game detail matters because it tracks the human side of durability too: Bridges isn’t just someone who kept showing up—he did it after change. During the 2022-23 season, he was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Brooklyn Nets and then adjusted to the Nets’ remaining schedule.
Even as New York’s season runs on in the NBA Finals, Bridges’ durability remains part of the Knicks’ identity. The streak. as impressive as it has been in the regular season. does not carry over into the playoffs in the way some of these records do—still. it’s a run that stands on its own merit. and it’s the reason Fears was asking in the first place.
For Bridges, the message is simple: keep your seat warm, keep improving, and don’t assume you’ll stay in the lineup forever.
Mikal Bridges New York Knicks Jeremiah Fears New Orleans Pelicans NBA Finals iron-man streak consecutive games durability Phoenix Suns Brooklyn Nets