Phoenix Suns Early Stud: Mikal Bridges
Already proving his contract extension well-warranted, Mikal Bridges looks like the two-way star most foresaw him developing into—just a few years earlier than expected.
For now, he averages 15.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while also shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep. Emerging the team’s second highest scorer, Bridges looks like the team’s second best player at its surface, as odd as that feels to say with Paul and Deandre Ayton still aboard.
Bridges’s best game against the Lakers, even despite it presenting him with his toughest matchup on paper. During the bout, Bridges frequently bothered LeBron James at one end of the floor, and then put on an efficiency clinic at the other.
Leading Phoenix to a victory, he finished with 21 points while shooting 72.7 percent from the field. Bridges only ever scored that many points at such a high clip three other times during his career, fully cementing it as a marquee performance for him.
Just like with Phoenix’s general issues to start out this season, you never want to jump the gun and make a foolish overreaction after only a couple games. But as it stands now, Bridges looks more like a true star, rather than only a young prospect for this Suns team.