Although the Knicks eked out a nail-biting win against the Hornets, Mikal Bridges again gave a reason why fans are not cheering for him. The blockbuster trade that sent a truckload of future first-round picks [15 to be exact] to the Nets in exchange for Bridges was supposed to be the move to elevate the Knicks. But fans are starting to think they might’ve overpaid for, well, a downgrade. And sure, his buddy Josh Hart is riding in his defense, but Knicks Nation isn’t having it. 

They’re frustrated, and who can blame them? So far, the small forward, who is currently in a four-year, $90 million contract, has played 18 games with the Knicks, starting all of them and logging 38.2 minutes per game. But his numbers are not very convincing. 

He’s averaging 15.9 points per game, shooting a dismal 30.8% from three-point range—way down from the 37.2% he put up with the Nets last season and the 38.7% he shot in Phoenix back in 2022-23. More than anything, it’s not like he hasn’t had time to adjust, either.

But, to date, he hasn’t been the savior everyone hoped for. Instead, he’s been more of a ‘what are we doing here?’ moment for fans, even in the recent game. Sure, the Knicks won 99-98, but Bridges spent crucial moments of the fourth quarter on the bench, scoring just 8 points. He fumbled in key spots, including a lazy inbound pass picked off by Josh Green, who then sank a jumper to snatch the lead back. 

Still, Josh Hart, his forever ally, has his teammate’s back. “I’m not worried about Bridges,” he said, brushing off the media storm. Hart chalked it up to a new role and growing pains, saying, “He’s adjusting… It’s our job to get him going.” 

And as for the draft picks, Hart practically shrugged it off, claiming that if the Knicks win a championship, no one will care how many picks they gave up. Bridges, for his part, isn’t blind to the backlash. After the game, he promised, “I’ll be better.” Very admirable, but the fandom isn’t in a forgiving mood. 

Josh Hart defends, but Mikal Bridges’ struggles have Knicks fans seeing red

With each game, fans are finding additional reasons to vent, and Friday’s win against the Hornets was no exception. Bridges had another rough outing. Taking to X, one fan wrote, “He’s just wrong about the nitpicking part. Bridges isn’t even playing defense. That would excuse what he’s doing on offense.”

We can’t deny that the stats back it up. He’s averaging just 3.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game. Those aren’t the numbers of a defensive stopper. Defense could’ve been his saving grace while his offense struggles, but instead, he’s falling short on both ends of the court.

Then there’s another, “I get it’s his boy, but he’s 1. Missing WIDE open shots, 2. His effort on defense is unacceptable.” We know for a fact that missing wide-open shots is a hoop cardinal sin. The Knicks forward is shooting a rough 37-120 from three-point range. For a player who’s supposed to be a reliable scorer, that’s just very below the mark.

Expressing their rage very clearly, a user penned, “Josh hart gotta stfu shit not cool now dude playing a*s nobody got time for ur jokes anymore.” When Hart says things like, “If we win a championship, nobody will care about the picks,” it’s rubbing people the wrong way. 

Because Bridges’ struggles aren’t just his problem, they’re affecting the team. Every missed shot and defensive lapse is making it harder for the Knicks to win games comfortably. Fans want results, not jokes. 

Another fan highlighted his other weakness, saying, “Did you see how the Knicks turned the game around once bridges went to the bench in the 4th . All them turnovers he had today did not help in the least.” Bridges had 3 turnovers in Friday’s game, and they were costly. 

His sloppy play in crucial moments is hurting the team. However, among the string of criticism, fans found a reason. “I don’t think bridges was prepared to be going into a situation he thought he was gonna be the second option then the kat trade happened having to adjust to being now the 3rd option & now a month into the season realizing he’s now the 4th & sometimes even the 5th option,” they said. 

The baller came in expecting a big role, but with Karl-Anthony Towns in the mix, he’s dropped to the fourth or fifth option. Seems like it is affecting his confidence. It’s certainly not an easy transition, but it doesn’t justify his performance. All in all, patience is running thin right now, and all eyes are on Bridges. If he doesn’t turn it around soon, this trade will go down as one of the Knicks’ most regrettable gambles.