Video: Jalen Brunson Says He ‘Never Thought’ Nets Would Trade Mikal Bridges to Knicks

Andrew PetersJuly 4, 2024

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Bridges also joins his former Villanova teammates Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, meaning four former Wildcats will be playing in Madison Square Garden next season.

On his podcast, the Roommates Show, Brunson admitted that he didn’t think a trade for Bridges would ever happen given the history between the Knicks and Nets.

“I never thought it would happen,” Brunson said (15:10 mark). “I never thought it would happen, because, when’s the last time the Nets made a trade with the Knicks?”

Brunson’s logic for why he thought a trade wouldn’t get done is sound, as the Knicks hadn’t traded with their crosstown rival since 1983. It’s also somewhat miraculous that Brooklyn’s first trade with New York in more than 40 years happened to Brunson, Hart and DiVincenzo’s close friend and college teammate.

The four were all a part of the Wildcats’ 2015-16 national championship team, and they’ve since gone on to have respectable NBA careers. Now, they’ll join forces to try to bring a championship to New York.

The Knicks are coming off a season in which they came one game shy of reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. Behind an MVP-caliber player in Brunson, New York seems to be on its way to being a contender.

And adding Bridges will certainly help its case.

The former All-Defensive First Team member gives the Knicks another All-Star caliber player capable of making a huge impact. Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists last year with the Nets and will be looking to continue improving this year.

Another aspect of Bridges’ addition is the unmatched chemistry he will have with Brunson, Hart and DiVincenzo.