Mikal Bridges has had an awkward start as a member of the New York Knicks. Bridges seemed like an important missing piece. He was widely considered an ideal third star who happened to be the Brooklyn Nets’ best player. So joining the Knicks was a logical choice as he would become a complementary star behind Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. But plans change. New York traded Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns — a move that destabilized the roster by removing some depth and resulting in less familiarity among the starters.

The Knicks’ early struggles coincide with Bridge’s struggle to regain his form

On a more personal level, Bridges also struggled at first. He adjusted his jump shot before joining the Knicks. That change was seemingly intended to achieve a higher release point. It didn’t work well. Bridges shot just 2-for-19 on 3-pointers through four preseason games. And his start to the regular season also looked weak. He was 0 for 4 on threes in the first half of the first game of the season.

Sure, Bridges made two of his three triples in the second half of that first game, but his struggles weren’t over. He shot just 30.8% on three-point attempts through the first ten games of the season, and he broke 20 points just once. By comparison, Bridges made 37.2% of his three-pointers last season and in 2023-24 he averaged 19.6 points per game.

Fortunately, Bridges has been playing better lately. He scored 20 or more in three straight games leading up to Monday’s big win against the Washington Wizards, and he shot eight-for-21 on three-pointers (38%) in those three games.

Bridges’ clear role continues to elude

Yet Bridges is clearly struggling to find his role. For example, he has shot just 11 free throws in the Knicks’ first 13 games. That’s after shooting 317 last season. He’s pretty clearly headed to a low point in his career.

Bridges’ defense was also less impactful. Yes, he had a game-saving block against the Brooklyn Nets last week, which gave Knicks fans something to be happy about. But he has had less impact than you might expect, especially alongside OG Anunoby, who was widely expected to form a monstrous defensive unit.

Plus, the Knicks are simply better without him, at least according to the stats. New York has better offensive and defensive ratings without Bridges on the floor than with him. They also shoot better without him (twos and threes). And opponents shoot a better field goal percentage (twos and threes) with him on the floor. That’s a lot to digest. But it’s not all Bridges’ fault.

The Knicks are still a team that is learning to play with each other. Add to that the fact that they traded two above-average center defenders for one less-than-stellar defender, along with the fact that their depth has been effectively depleted, at least for now, and you get a team that is struggling to stay alive. to their potential. And with Bridges leading the Knicks within minutes, his stats will inevitably be influenced by those around him. But this too shall pass.

Despite all the statistics, Bridges will be fine

Yet the real Mikal Bridges is out there somewhere. He finds his role. This means he leads the entire league in minutes per game. With a coach like Tom Thibodeau, who mainly relies on players he trusts, that means something when you consider that he just now joined the team.

Moreover, he has shown flashes of creation for himself. Flashes. Still, he has penetrated off the dribble and has scored a bit more lately without being set up. And his back-to-the-basket play was a bright spot.

So ultimately, don’t worry, Knicks fans. It’s only been 14 games or 17% of the season. And the Knicks have stayed afloat, going 8-6 so far. And they’ve played all those games without two key players: Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa. So it’s important to understand that better days are ahead.

Bridges will find out. He is loved by his teammates, especially his former college teammates (Brunson and Josh Hart). He previously played alongside superstars such as Devin Booker. So figuring out how to fit alongside the Knicks’ talented starting lineup shouldn’t be a problem. And he is the most durable player in the game today. So give him some time. Even if his production doesn’t live up to what he’s done in the past, his impact will be felt.