Happy Birthday to Suns Swingman Mikal Bridges!

The versatile Phoenix Suns swingman with the blossoming game just turned another year young!

Mikal Bridges is now 24! He has made amazing strides in his game over the past two seasons for the Phoenix Suns and is a big part of their recent success, especially over the second half of the truncated 2020 season, showing the signs of a fearsome two way player in the Orlando bubble.

Over the course of the year, Bridges improved across a wide variety of categories in his game. Whether it was in points, (8.3 to 9.1 per game) rebounds, (3.2 to 4.0 a contest) or overall efficiency (Bridges went from 54% to 61% on two-point field goals and from 33% to 36% from three-point range) the strides in his game have been clear to see.

Mikal Bridges has shown that he is already an established member of the Suns young core.

Bridges’ ability to play both forward positions and guard literally every position on the floor at times has only served to increase his versatility and overall value to the Phoenix Suns. Throughout the course of the year, he slotted in alongside Kelly Oubre Jr., Cam Johnson, and Dario Saric and performed more than capably. With additional bulk and experience down the line, it may even be possible (I repeat, possible) for Bridges to play a super small-ball five in select lineups.

Imagine a Ricky Rubio, Devin Booker, Johnson, Oubre, and Bridges lineup! Small? Yes, but it is also a lineup that is tremendously competitive, defensively versatile, and when you turn to the offensive end, the possibilities seem endless

With that being said, Bridges has several areas where he can improve. From continuing to define his body to becoming more aggressive off the catch and adding some added dimensions off the bounce, there are elements that Bridges doesn’t yet possess right now, but would only prove to further enhance his burgeoning skill set.

All of that being said, for a player so young that was drafted 10th overall (and an interesting note given the Phoenix Suns draft position this year) Mikal Bridges has inspired hope among Suns fans and also cemented himself as part of this young core of a team that is full of budding potential. Time will tell how Mikal continues to develop, but based on what we have seen, I think I speak for us all when I say we can’t wait for more to come.

Happy Birthday Mikal from us here at Valley of the Suns!