Nets' Mikal Bridges wants to be a part of team's future
Nets forward Mikal Bridges celebrates his three-point shot against the Kings during the third quarter at Barclays Center on Sunday. Credit: Brad Penner
It is not exactly breaking news that the Nets will have a lot of questions to try to answer this summer.
But one was answered for them Tuesday as swingman Mikal Bridges made it clear that he wants to remain with the franchise.
“My intention is definitely to stay here,” Bridges said during practice at HSS Training Center.
The 27-year-old, who was acquired by the Nets in the Feb. 9, 2023 blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix, has two years remaining on the four-year, $90 million contract he signed when he was a member of the Suns.
Bridges is averaging 20 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 79 games this season. He has played in every game for the Nets and has never missed a game in his NBA career.
He said his goal for the final three games of the regular season will be to continue to play with the Nets’ young players such as Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson.
Interim head coach Kevin Ollie seems predisposed to letting Bridges and the Nets’ veterans continue to get comfortable with Clowney and Wilson on the court.
“We're still evaluating and we'll evaluate with our young guys,” Ollie said. “Our young guys are playing very well. So they'll still see extended minutes. But our veteran guys still want to play. So I'm not a coach to tell them not to play. So we'll still evaluate that [and] how the game is going.”
So Bridges is going to play and wants to stay. What he does not want to do is to be consulted about potential coaching hires and player acquisitions by owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks.
“[Whatever] they want, man,” Bridges said. “I just try to play basketball. They know I want to win and [they will] figure out the best guy to help us win.”
