Knicks’ Mikal Bridges explains reasoning for signing contract extension

After just one season with the New York Knicks, Mikal Bridges has established himself as one of the team’s most important pieces going forward.

After being traded from the Brooklyn Nets before last season, Bridges averaged 17.6 points per game, appearing in all 82 contests on the season. Bridges was also key to the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, coming up with game-winning defensive plays in both Games 1 and 2 in the second-round against the Boston Celtics as the Knicks would go on to win the series in six games.

Bridges and the Knicks agreed to a contract extension this offseason

After the season, Bridges was rewarded with a four-year, $150 million extension to remain with the Knicks. However, Bridges left a lot of money on the table by signing this offseason as opposed to next, and also took a small pay cut in order to help the team financially.

On Tuesday, Bridges was asked about his thought process in taking the pay cut to remain in New York.

“If I came here, preaching about how much I want to win, and I try to take every dollar to make it difficult for the organization? I'll seem like a fraud,” Bridges said. “That's not who I am. I want to win bad.”

Bridges and the Knicks will now look to reach another level in 2026. After coming up just short of an NBA Finals appearance last season, the team will aim to secure its first championship since 1973 this season.