Knicks sign Mikal Bridges to four-year $150 million extention

Around a year ago, Knicks fans spent a good portion of the offseason trying to decide how they felt about their all-in move to trade for former Villanova standout Mikal Bridges. On one hand, fans were excited about the prospect of pairing OG Anunoby with another wing that was just a couple of years removed from being one of the best two-way three-and-D players in the league. On the other hand, though, fans were surprised, dare I even say scared, about the potential blowback of trading five first-round picks for someone of Bridges’ caliber.

What ensued was one of the most confusing, frustrating, and inconsistent seasons from a player we’ve seen in a long time. There were nights when Bridges looked like the perimeter defender, and the third option the Knicks needed to get them over the hump. But there were also many a night when Bridges looked out of whack, uncomfortable, or just downright bad.

The narratives surrounding Bridges quickly soured. Instead of talking about the 17.6PPG he was averaging, his near-automatic efficiency from mid-range, or the new Villanova trio he formed with college teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, fans around the league focused on the negatives. They made note of his inconsistent defense, reluctance to get to the free throw line, the change to his shooting form that led to subpar results, and last but not least, the package of picks that the Knicks gave up to get him.

Now, Bridges was able to rewrite some of those narratives in the playoffs when he started the Knicks’ second-round series against the Celtics with a pair of game-winning defensive plays. But much like the regular season, his postseason performance was a mixed bag- one filled with mediocre performances that left fans searching for the silver lining.

So when the season ended, there was plenty to talk about with Bridges’ future with the Knicks. Would they dare trade one of Brunson’s best friends? Or would New York extend him? And if they did, would he take a pay cut knowing that the Knicks held little to no leverage?

Well, those questions, after weeks of speculation that he may be involved in a trade for a certain Greek superstar in Milwaukee, were finally answered. On Thursday night, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Bridges had agreed to a four-year $150 million contract extension, which includes a player option for the 2029-30 season, and a trade kicker. That brings Bridges’ average annual value to around $37.5 million per year, making him the fourth-highest paid player on the team starting in the 2026-27 season.

While that is quite a lot of money for a player that left a lot to be desired for the overwhelming majority of the season, it is also important to note that Bridges was eligible to sign a four-year $156 million contract, and had he waited until next summer, he would’ve been eligible to sign for up to $300 million over five years.

The six million dollars he gave up doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it, along with Brunson’s extension last summer, helps the Knicks operate under both aprons moving forward, giving them more flexibility to continue building out what will hopefully be a championship roster.

With the move now looking official, the Knicks have Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, Pacome Dadiet, and Tyler Kolek all signed through the 2027-28 season with Karl-Anthony Towns holding a $61 million player option that year as well.