Mikal Bridges made it clear that his priority with the New York Knicks is winning, not chasing every dollar.
The 28-year-old forward signed a four-year, $150 million extension with New York on August 1 and admitted he left money on the table to give the franchise more roster flexibility.
“If I came here, preaching about how much I want to win, and I try to take every dollar to make it difficult for the organization? I’ll seem like a fraud,” Bridges said. “That’s not who I am. I want to win bad.”
Bridges arrived in New York in July 2024 via a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets. The move reunited him with Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, forming the “Nova Knicks” core that pushed the franchise to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season.
He played all 82 regular season games in 2024–25, averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field. In the postseason, he added several signature moments, including a game-winning steal in overtime against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the conference semifinals.
Bridges said the pain of falling short against the Indiana Pacers in the East Finals has only increased his hunger. “Getting that close and losing, it was not fun at all. You can be more grateful, but our expectations are different. We use that for fuel,” he explained.
His decision to take less than the maximum extension is consistent with the image he has built as a selfless teammate. By sacrificing salary, the Knicks can maintain flexibility as they move into the Mike Brown era after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau in June.
New York has built around Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Bridges, aiming to keep its championship window open. Bridges’ willingness to prioritize winning over money reinforces that goal.
