Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks. Listed as a guard-forward, he is recognized for his two-way wing role, length and defensive versatility. Bridges was born on August 30, 1996, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Great Valley High School in Malvern. He played college basketball at Villanova, where he developed into a prominent perimeter defender and reliable offensive contributor.

At Villanova, Bridges helped the Wildcats win NCAA championships in 2016 and 2018. During the 2017–18 season, he earned First Team All-Big East recognition, was named an Associated Press Third Team All-American and won the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. His combination of perimeter defense, outside shooting and ability to guard multiple positions made him one of the leading two-way players in the 2018 draft class.

Bridges was selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 10th overall pick by Philadelphia, then traded to Phoenix on draft night. He played for the Suns from 2018 through 2023 and the Brooklyn Nets from 2023 through 2024 before being traded to New York on July 6, 2024. As of September 29, 2026, the NBA lists him on the Knicks’ roster. His playing style continues to center on perimeter defense, positional flexibility, transition play and efficient movement without the ball.