American · Malvern, Pennsylvania · Born 30 August 1996Elite two-way wing whose defence, three-point shooting and winning mentality have made him one of the NBA's most coveted role players.
Mikal Bridges was born on 30 August 1996 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Great Valley High School in Malvern before playing three seasons at Villanova University, where he won back-to-back national championships in 2016 and 2018 and earned the Julius Erving Award as the nation's top small forward. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Bridges tenth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft before immediately trading him to the Phoenix Suns, where he developed into one of the league's premier three-and-D wings, earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honours in 2022 and helping the Suns reach the 2021 NBA Finals. Bridges was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2023 as the centrepiece of the historic Kevin Durant trade package, and then to the New York Knicks in 2024. As of April 2026, he holds the NBA's active record for most consecutive games played, having never missed a game since being drafted, ranking eighth on the all-time list. Bridges, nicknamed "the Warden" for his defensive tenacity, has continued to be one of the league's most durable and reliable two-way wings, helping the Knicks win the 2025 NBA Cup, remaining one of the most dependable players in the modern NBA.
Elite perimeter defense and three-point shooting
He won two NCAA Championships at Villanova (2016, 2018) and became one of the NBA's elite defensive wings, capable of guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player on any given night.
Did You Know?How They Played
Two-way wing with lockdown defense and reliable shooting
Lasting Impact
One of the NBA's premier 3-and-D wings and ironman
Career Honours
- NCAA Champion 2016, 2018 (Villanova)
- NBA champion (2026)
- NBA Cup champion (2025)
| Club | Period | Apps | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | 2018–2024 | 330 | #25 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 2024–2024 | 434 | #35 |
| New York Knicks | 2024–2024 | — | — |
American Athletes