Meeting your favorite NBA player can be a huge deal. While we can watch these athletes go toe-to-toe on TV, view their social media posts, and see them in the entertainment industry, nothing beats the feeling of meeting these stars face-to-face. It can lead to heightened emotions and, for many fans, it is visible in the facial expressions. For young fans, this can become an everlasting memory. That was the case when a young boy met a 26-year-old NBA star. But what if a fellow NBA player co-signs with fans expressing such emotions? 

Sometimes the mutual journey between some players goes way back before they graced the towering heights of the league. That is evident in the case of Mikal Bridges and a 28-year-old New York Knicks star who has been in the news due to his contract.

Mikal Bridges’ years-long connection

He already had a reputation for being a shutdown defensive player, but Mikal Bridges set the NBA world on fire offensively after being traded to the Brooklyn Nets. His scoring surged over 25 points a game and he built a great reputation among the Nets faithful. His athletic dunks and grinding defense have helped him build a big fanbase. Therefore, when a fan met him, he was unable to hide his exploding emotions. Apparently, New York Knicks’ gritty guard Josh Hart shares the same ‘gushing’ emotions.

The relationship between Hart and Bridges goes back to their college days at Villanova Wildcats, who were teammates from 2014 to 2017. The brotherly bond forged during those days can lead to some heart-warming events.

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Both players entered in the same year and now play for cross-town New York rivals. The two helped lead Vilanova to the NCAA title in 2016.

While the two of them have become fan favorites, Hart’s future in New York is up for debate.

Hart is ready for a hefty payday from the Knicks

Josh Hart signed a three-year $37 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans a couple of years ago. He has been traded twice since then and now is a part of the New York Knicks. The contract of around $13 million dollars looks a little underpaid as per the current market. The 28-year-old has a player option for the final year of his contract but decided to extend the deadline to opt in.

His worth as a two-way player has increased and the Knicks are likely to retain him with a contract that is north of $20 million per year. Will extending Hart improve Knicks’ chances? Do share in the comments below.

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