Latest news with #Knicks
GMA Network
9 minutes ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
NBA: Mikal Bridges agrees to 4-year, $150 million extension with Knicks
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) reacts after hitting a three point shot in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, Dec. 25, 2024. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Fresh off playing an integral role in the New York Knicks reaching their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years, forward Mikal Bridges agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract with the team on Thursday, according to multiple media reports. The deal reportedly includes a player option for 2029-30 and a trade kicker, making Bridges, 28, ineligible to be traded for six months after the signing extension. His previous deal was set to expire following the 2025-26 season. The new contract is reportedly a slight discount from his potential max extension of $156 million. By agreeing to a reduced salary, though, the Knicks gain more flexibility to continue building out the roster and potentially make another deep playoff run. New York acquired Bridges last summer as part of a massive trade that included sending four unprotected first-round picks and one protected first-rounder to the Brooklyn Nets. In 82 regular-season games last season for the Knicks, all starts, Bridges averaged 17.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor, including a 35.4 percent clip from 3-point range. During the playoffs, Bridges contributed 15.6 points on 45.6 percent shooting as well as 1.7 steals per game. He has averaged 14.8 points during his seven-year career that includes stops with Phoenix (2018-23), Brooklyn (2022-24) and New York. --Field Level Media/Reuters
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Reports: Mikal Bridges agrees to 4-year, $150 million extension with Knicks
Fresh off playing an integral role in the New York Knicks reaching their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years, forward Mikal Bridges agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract with the team on Thursday, according to multiple media reports. The deal reportedly includes a player option for 2029-30 and a trade kicker, making Bridges, 28, ineligible to be traded for six months after the signing extension. His previous deal was set to expire following the 2025-26 season. The new contract is reportedly a slight discount from his potential max extension of $156 million. By agreeing to a reduced salary, though, the Knicks gain more flexibility to continue building out the roster and potentially make another deep playoff run. New York acquired Bridges last summer as part of a massive trade that included sending four unprotected first-round picks and one protected first-rounder to the Brooklyn Nets. In 82 regular-season games last season for the Knicks, all starts, Bridges averaged 17.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor, including a 35.4 percent clip from 3-point range. During the playoffs, Bridges contributed 15.6 points on 45.6 percent shooting as well as 1.7 steals per game. He has averaged 14.8 points during his seven-year career that includes stops with Phoenix (2018-23), Brooklyn (2022-24) and New York. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Mikal Bridges agrees to a $150 million extension with the Knicks, AP source says
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Mikal Bridges agreed to a four-year, $150 million extension with the New York Knicks on Thursday, a person with knowledge of the details said. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced. It was first reported by ESPN. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges last June and he rewarded them by taking less than he could have earned to lock in to a future with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Bridges could have earned $156 million in this extension, or even more by waiting until his contract expired next summer. Instead, he took the deal that could allow the Knicks future flexibility to keep building a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time since 2000. Bridges made a couple of huge defensive plays when the Knicks knocked off 2024 NBA champion Boston in the second round. The Knicks sought those defensive abilities and his availability to play every game that is unmatched among current NBA players when they traded the huge package of picks to acquire Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets last summer. Bridges played in every game — as he has in every season in the NBA — and averaged 17.6 points. The NBA's reigning iron man also played in every game in college before appearing in all 556 since entering the NBA as a first-round pick in 2018. He helped Phoenix reach the NBA Finals in 2021 and was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year the following season, before being dealt to Brooklyn at the 2023 trade deadline as part of the package for Kevin Durant. Bridges averaged 26.1 points in the final 27 games of that season and 19.6 in 2023-24, before becoming more of a supporting offensive piece with the Knicks behind Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. ___ AP NBA: recommended Item 1 of 3
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Mikal Bridges agrees to $150 million extension with Knicks, AP source says
NEW YORK (AP) — Mikal Bridges agreed to a four-year, $150 million extension with the New York Knicks on Thursday, a person with knowledge of the details said. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced. It was first reported by ESPN. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges last June and he rewarded them by taking less than he could have earned to lock in to a future with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Bridges could have earned $156 million in this extension, or even more by waiting until his contract expired next summer. Instead, he took the deal that could allow the Knicks future flexibility to keep building a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time since 2000. ___ AP NBA:
NBC Sports
5 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mikal Bridges, Knicks reportedly agree to four-year, $150 million extension
Mikal Bridges' first season reunited with his Villanova crew in New York didn't live up to the steep five first-round picks price paid for him, although Bridges started to find his footing and had some critical defensive moments in the playoffs. That, along with his potential fit in new coach Mike Brown's system, had the Knicks and Bridges agreeing to a four-year, $150 million contract extension, something first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania and since confirmed by multiple other reports. That is slightly less than the $156 million max he could have gotten this summer, Charania notes. While it may not seem like much, the giveback should give the Knicks more financial flexibility and help them avoid the dreaded second luxury tax apron in future seasons. Bridges also could have waited a year, become a free agent and gotten a larger five-year contract but took this deal instead. This deal locks up the Knicks' core — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Bridges — for two more seasons, which becomes three years if KAT and Hart pick up their player options. Bridges' $37.5 million average salary on this contract is the fourth highest on the team (behind Towns, Anunoby and Brunson). That the Knicks were willing to pay Bridges that much now suggests they think Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going to be available this coming season. Bridges had an up-and-down first season in New York, averaging 17.6 points a game and shooting 35.4% from 3, his lowest percentage since his rookie season. However, he seemed more comfortable in Tom Thibodeau's system as the season went on and had some critical defensive plays in the playoffs, helping the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. Bridges is considered one of the players most likely to benefit from the up-tempo, more ball movement system new coach Mike Brown is expected to bring to Madison Square Garden next season.
