Mikal Bridges’ $150 Million Knicks Extension Sparks Big Questions: Is This the Franchise’s Game-Changer?

Mikal Bridges’ first season reunited with his Villanova crew in New York didn’t live up to the steep five first-round picks price paid for him, although Bridges started to find his footing and had some critical defensive moments in the playoffs.

That, along with his potential fit in new coach Mike Brown’s system, had the Knicks and Bridges agreeing to a four-year, 0 million contract extension, something first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and since confirmed by multiple other reports. The deal has a player option in the final season (2029-30) and a trade kicker. Bridges’ teammates had his back.This deal locks up the Knicks’ core — Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Bridges and Miles “Deuce” McBride — for two more seasons, which becomes three years if KAT and Hart pick up their player options. Bridges’ .5 million average salary on this contract is the fourth highest on the team (behind Towns, Anunoby and Brunson). That the Knicks were willing to pay Bridges that much now suggests they think Giannis Antetokounmpo is not going to be available this coming season.Bridges is considered one of the players most likely to benefit from the up-tempo, more ball movement system new coach Mike Brown is expected to bring to Madison Square Garden next season.
Mikal Bridges’ initial chapter back in New York alongside his Villanova brethren? Well, it didn’t exactly scream instant impact—far from it, actually. The hefty haul of five first-round picks the Knicks shelled out raised expectations sky-high, yet Bridges’ debut felt more like a slow burn. Still, don’t let that fool you: by season’s end, he was carving out essential defensive stops in the playoffs, hinting at something juicier beneath the surface. Now, with fresh blood in the coaching ranks—namely, Mike Brown—and that intriguing synergy in play, Bridges and the Knicks locked horns on a four-year, 0 million extension. Yes, it’s got that player option in Year Four and a nice trade kicker, plus, let’s not forget, the squad’s backing him all the way. Sure, it’s a shade less than the max bucks he could’ve pocketed, but this move? It’s as much about team chemistry and future flexibility as it is about dollars and cents. This contract cements attention on the Knicks’ core, signaling a decisive “we’re in this to win it” mindset. And if you think this was just a routine deal, think again—Bridges is sacrificing a bit now for a bigger prize down the line, a strategy echoing Jalen Brunson’s savvy approach. All signs point to him thriving under Brown’s uptempo, free-flowing scheme next season. So, hang tight—the Garden’s about to get a whole lot more interesting. LEARN MORE

Bridges had an up-and-down first season in New York, averaging 17.6 points a game and shooting 35.4% from 3, his lowest percentage since his rookie season. However, he seemed more comfortable in Tom Thibodeau’s system — and as the team’s lead point-of-attack defender, a new role for him — as the season wore on. He had some critical defensive plays in the playoffs, helping the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.This contract is less than the 6 million max Bridges could have gotten this summer, Charania notes. While it may not seem like much, the giveback should give the Knicks more financial flexibility and help them avoid the dreaded second luxury tax apron in future seasons. Bridges also could have waited a year, become a free agent and gotten a larger five-year contract (near 0 million max) but took this deal instead, and it was intentional according to reports — he was willing to sacrifice a little to help the Knicks build out a championship-level roster (as had Jalen Brunson before him).