(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
For years, Tom Thibodeau has developed a bit of a reputation in the NBA.
He’s known for his defensive prowess and ability to shut down opposing teams, but he’s also infamous for not playing his rookies and wearing his players out with heavy minutes.
That’s why Mikal Bridges is a tailor-made fit for him and his system.
As shown by StatMuse on Twitter, Bridges has led the league in minutes in the 2020s.
Mikal Bridges is leading the league in minutes in the 2020s.
He’s about to play for Thibs. pic.twitter.com/YMfdIiGuxP
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 26, 2024
Also, he played an 83-game regular-season when traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Brooklyn Nets.
Needless to say, that’s not particularly common, especially in the context of load management and players handpicking when to play and when to sit.
Of course, the Knicks have more than enough depth to give Bridges a breather.
Fellow Wildcats Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart should be more than capable of holding down the fort while he’s out getting some rest, but Thibodeau likes to push his players’ boundaries and bodies to the limit, and he won’t be the exception to this rule.
The Knicks were already a very good team with a bright future ahead of them.
Now, they’re a legitimate championship contender out of the Eastern Conference, adding yet another elite defender and true Iron Man to their tough and gritty squad of players with a chip on their shoulders.
The post Stat Shows How Mikal Bridges Might Be A Great Fit With Knicks appeared first on The Cold Wire.