Bridges: Navigating the Arc of Refinement
Mikal Bridges has long been a stalwart from beyond the three-point line, delivering a notable career average of 37.5% shooting accuracy. This impressive statistic places him comfortably among the reliable sharpshooters in the NBA. Known for his steady performance, Bridges has consistently managed to maintain a shooting percentage that never dips below 36.1% in any season—a testament to his consistency and skill.
Yet, even the most seasoned players encounter challenges. In a surprising twist, Bridges struggled to find his rhythm in a recent preseason game against the Washington Wizards, missing all ten of his attempts from long range. An anomaly for a player of his caliber, the preseason can often be a treacherous terrain where experimentation and adjustment lead to less predictable outcomes.
Last season, as part of the Brooklyn Nets, Bridges maintained a solid 37.2% three-point shooting efficiency, attempting an average of 7.2 shots per game from deep. Notably, he excelled in the catch-and-shoot category, where his 38.4% conversion rate on 5.6 attempts per game ranked him seventh in attempts league-wide. Despite this laudable performance, Bridges remains a perpetual student of the game, grappling with mechanical issues in his shooting form that persist from his college days.
In Bridges' own words, "Ever since I got into the league, been trying to fix it back to when I was in college, so it's been seven years of just every day." His relentless pursuit of perfection echoes a narrative familiar to many athletes—the battle to constantly refine and adapt to stay ahead in the competitive world of professional sports.
"When I came out of college, I kind of tweaked it a little bit. And then my second year in the league, I had the hitch, and tried to build back from that ever since. So just trying to get it right. Pretty much it," Bridges elaborated, offering a glimpse into the intricate journey of recalibrating one’s craft at the highest level of basketball competition.
As the new season approaches, Bridges will be suiting up for the New York Knicks, a move that came at a hefty price for the team—five first-round picks were traded for his acquisition. This decision underscores the high expectations resting on his shoulders and the belief in his potential impact despite recent preseason struggles.
Preseason, by its very nature, serves as a canvas for coaches and players to experiment, test new strategies, and identify areas of improvement. For Bridges, this period allows him the space to work through his mechanical adjustments, aiming to restore the fluid shooting form that characterized his college career. While his preseason stats of 2-for-19 from three-point range across four games might cause concern, the true measure of his recalibrated shooting prowess will unfold as the regular season progresses.
For fans and the Knicks organization, optimism prevails that Bridges will rediscover his reliable touch from beyond the arc, further enhancing a team hungry for success. With his dedication and track record, Mikal Bridges continues to be a valuable player whose journey of refinement is watched with great anticipation. As he integrates into the new environment, the NBA community is keenly observing how this chapter will unfold in his already compelling career.