Of all the former Phoenix Suns players in the NBA today, few have a better approval rating with The Valley than Mikal Bridges. Fans were devastated when he was included in the package that got them Kevin Durant — and if you whisper it quietly — there are some who would undo that trade if they could.

Bridges toiled on the Nets for a few seasons, but this summer he was reunited with his Villanova buddies (sorry Donte DiVincenzo…) when he landed with the New York Knicks. Looking at a true contender that also brought in Karl-Anthony Towns, this represents Bridges’ best chance to win a championship since making the 2021 NBA Finals with the Suns.

When Bridges played for the Suns, the main dampener on his play was that – while he was a fantastic defender – his shooting form left a lot to be desired. Still, in five seasons in Phoenix, he managed to shoot 37.5 percent from deep on more than four attempts per game. This unlocked the best version of the team he played on, with Bridges becoming their “3-and-D” specialist.

Ironically, this also seems like what the Suns’ first-round pick could experience this summer. Ryan Dunn was drafted as a wing stopper and didn’t have a reliable shot, but in a preseason win against the Denver Nuggets he went an impressive 6-for-11 from deep. There’s a reason he’s compared to Bridges early on.

But looking at the video above, it appears that Bridges has taken a huge step backwards with his shooting form since being traded to the Knicks. While those shots went in, it’s hard to imagine that form being effective in a real basketball game. It looks like he’s trying to scoop the ball into the net.

Bonus points here if you can also spot former Suns’ point guard Cameron Payne at the bottom of the photo, with his own shooting form often drawing criticism. Payne was one of the most divisive players the team has had in recent years — a limited-round general, but one who has had some nice playoff moments — and he will struggle for minutes in New York.

But if Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News As mentioned, Bridges has already told the New York media that he is trying to get back to that shooting he had in college. Early returns weren’t good, though, and even though Bridges is now a rival, fans will still be sad to see a player they root for so much have such a strange development in the way he shoots the ball.

But why did he feel the need to change it in the first place? When the Suns were real contenders, it never hurt to have Bridges on offense, although the presence of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton certainly helped. Only the Knicks have Towns, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby, so there are similarities between the two rosters (even though Anunoby is most certainly not Booker).

Bridges started 298 of The Valley’s 365 regular season games, accounting for 32.7 minutes and 14.7 points per game. Yet in the postseason – despite a drop to 13.1 points – he started all 39 games he played in and played 35 minutes per night. Not to mention the elite defensive skills that helped elevate this group. Bridges wasn’t broken, so is his shot trying to be fixed?