Mikal Bridges Secures His Future with the Knicks: Million-Dollar Extension
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has agreed to extend his contract with the franchise for four years and $150 million, according to his agents, Sam Goldfeder and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports Management. The deal includes a player option for the 2029-30 season and a clause that limits his trade.
Bridges, who is eligible to be traded six months after signing the extension, has opted for a slight discount compared to his maximum possible extension (156 million dollars), with the aim of helping the Knicks maintain the flexibility needed to continue building their roster.
The renewal of Bridges, along with that of Jalen Brunson and other key players, has been fundamental for the Knicks to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
With Bridges’ signing, the main question of New York’s preseason has been resolved. Brunson’s extension in 2024 and now the agreement with Bridges give the Knicks the flexibility needed to operate under the salary cap, allowing them to add more players to their roster.
Bridges had a mixed inaugural season in New York after being traded to the team last summer, a move that sparked speculation about whether the Knicks would look to trade him rather than negotiate a contract extension.
Bridges, who will turn 29 in August, had a difficult start in his role with the Knicks, where he was tasked with defending opposing ball handlers, a role he was not accustomed to. His free throw attempts decreased considerably and his position on the team became the fourth option in many games. In addition, he generated controversy by asking then-coach Tom Thibodeau to reduce the minutes of the starters, expressing that “sometimes it’s not fun for the body.”
Despite this, Bridges was effective in several aspects, playing all the games of the season. He finished second in the NBA in three-pointers from the corner and third in field goal percentage from mid-range (with a minimum of 150 attempts), only behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Bridges also stood out in crucial moments during the postseason. In addition to having two quarters with more than ten points in the series against the Celtics, he made important stops in the final minutes of games 1 and 2, in which the Knicks managed 20-point comebacks to win.
