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Nets Importance Rankings: Who are Brooklyn’s top 5 players?

By Jed Katz

Oct 25, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) fights for a loose ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) and guard Ben Simmons (10) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) fights for a loose ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) and guard Ben Simmons (10) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 14, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) gestures after scoring a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) gestures after scoring a three point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges was “the guy” in Brooklyn last season after being acquired as part of the Durant trade. The Villanova product averaged 26.1 points in 27 games with the Nets during the 2022-23 season. The 6’6″ forward has a 7’1″ wingspan and is known as a lockdown defender. Bridges was a first-team All-Defensive team member in the 2021-22 season.

What could propel Bridges into NBA stardom is an improvement in his offensive versatility. With the Phoenix Suns, Bridges played more of a catch-and-shoot role and rarely got the opportunity to score off the dribble. Now, with more freedom under coach Jacque Vaughn, Bridges has the opportunity to not only score more off of the ball but also create shots for himself and learn to embrace being the primary scorer.

Mikal is also an iron man when it comes to health. Due to scheduling and the trade that sent him to Brooklyn, Bridges missed one game last season yet played in 83 regular season games. The guy hates being out, and that one missed game was the first time he had been out since High School. Bridges played in every game at Villanova and has never been hurt since then, and if he is banged up, he always finds a way to play and log minutes.

Bridges has been known to be somewhat of a prototypical forward in today’s NBA: someone who can shoot from anywhere, defend at an elite level, and be effective in every game. Now, if he wants to be the prototypical “star” forward, he has to be able to score off of the dribble and find players in their spots. Bridges’ needs to be, and is, the catalyst of the Nets’ offense.

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