Knicks' Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart vouch for newest addition Mikal Bridges
From left, Walt Frazier, Jalen Brunson, host Kazeem Famiyude and Josh Hart speak during a panel at Fanatics Fan Fest on Friday at the Javits Center. Credit: Ed Quinn
The cost was prohibitive.
Jalen Brunson did not and does not care.
The Knicks’ captain believes all of the draft capital Leon Rose used to acquire Mikal Bridges was worth it, and he vouched for his former and current teammate on Friday.
“I’ll give you a little idea who he is,” Brunson said. “Mikal has been in the gym, in the facility. A lot of people have. But what he brings, he just fits the puzzle perfectly. He can do whatever you ask him to and then more.
“To kind of say who he is as a person, that man got off the plane from London last night and then he was in the gym this morning, bright and early. That should tell you everything you need to know about him.”
Yeah, he should fit right in.
Brunson’s validation of Bridges took place during a panel discussion entitled “Bing Bong: Iconic Knicks” at Javits Center in Manhattan. Joining Brunson on the panel were Josh Hart, Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, director Spike Lee and actor Ben Stiller.
Podcaster Kazeem Famuyide served as master of ceremonies.
Most people in NBA circles praised the predraft trade for Bridges, but there have been critics who publicly wondered if Rose overpaid for the 27-year-old.
In order to land the swingman from the Nets, Rose packaged five first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap in 2028, a 2025 second-round pick, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite and Shake Milton.
Those who have criticized the trade pointed out that Bridges has never been an All-Star in his NBA career. However, his versatility and willingness to defend dovetail with the way the Knicks have been built by team president Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau.
“We obviously have an identity of fighting and battling and doing those [kinds] of things,” Hart said.
And no one appreciates that identity more than Frazier. Seeing it up close as MSG Network’s Knicks color commentator reminds him of his 1970 and 1973 championship teams.
“I see a lot of similarities with the championship team, starting with the coach,” Frazier said. “[Thibodeau] is a lot like [Red Holzman]. Holds guys accountable and they’re defensive-oriented and the players actually like each other.
“I think this is going to be our year. Obviously, health is going to play a big factor into it. So if the Knicks can stay healthy, I think we can get back to our former grandeur.”
To that end, Lee presented Brunson and Hart a framed net from the Knicks’ Game 7 win over the Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals before the end of the discussion.
“It’s over 50 years,” Lee said, referring to the Knicks’ title drought. “It’s five decades since we won. It’s [expletive] time.”
