Phoenix Suns: Ranking Mikal Bridges Among Starting Small Fowards
Ranking Phoenix Suns SF Mikal Bridges: The Third Tier
Bridges scratches at this tier often, which includes Brandon Ingram, Jerami Grant, DeMar DeRozan, and Khris Middleton, but unfortunately falls slightly outside it.
Mikal Bridges says he did "OK" on Khris Middleton tonight and all you do with a player like that is make his shots difficult
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) July 7, 2021
Once again, his solid, but unexciting 13.5 point per game average from last year just draws an unignorable line between himself and these players, who all averaged at least 20.0 points per contest. However, Bridges only trails this crew by one or two tallies within the rebounding and assist departments, which remains quite encouraging.
Between last year and the one prior, Bridges increased his scoring by 4.4 points per game, which reasons that only a matter of time stands between Bridges this level. If we see Bridges make another similar jump and push his scoring averages into the high teens, then he more confidently establishes a place for himself at this tier’s back end.
As someone who indeed took a massive leap with his efforts last year, Bridges might want to look at Grant as a role model ahead the 2021-22 season. The same goes for Ingram, who won the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award during his fourth NBA season, which Bridges begins is set to begin.