The first trio to win both NCAA and NBA titles together
In short: Mikal Bridges is defined by an almost impossible level of durability. Since being drafted, he has never missed a single game, securing the active record for the most consecutive games played in NBA history. From Villanova to New York, his journey is a masterclass in evolving from a high school phenom into a versatile defensive anchor.
Bridges' path to the NBA was marked by a significant physical transformation. While attending Great Valley High School in Pennsylvania, he underwent a growth spurt that pushed him to 6-6, allowing him to transition from a high school scoring phenom to a versatile forward. He committed to Villanova in 2013, where he initially redshirted to focus on weightlifting and refining his three-point shot. This preparation paid off in 2016 when he helped lead the Wildcats to their first national championship since 1985.
His professional career began with a complex series of moves. Selected 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2018, he was traded on draft night to the Phoenix Suns. During his tenure in Phoenix, he became a defensive standout, earning a spot on the All-Defensive First Team and finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
He was notably the only Suns player to play in all 82 regular-season games in 2018-19, a feat that underscored his reputation for reliability. In 2024, Bridges moved to the New York Knicks, reuniting with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The 'Nova Knicks' moniker was coined for this assembly, which marked the initial instance of athletes securing both NCAA and NBA titles as a unit. By the 2025-26 season, Bridges had solidified his legacy by starting all 82 games for New York, maintaining a streak of consecutive games that ranks as the eighth-longest in all-time history.
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