Mikal Bridges has the NBA’s longest active consecutive game streak at 385 and counting. Bridges is one of just four players on pace to play in 82 games. Bridges also never missed a game during his three seasons at Villanova.
“Always just been blessed,” Bridges told The Athletic. “I think my body might get hurt, heals a little faster. Everybody’s body is a little different, but my body will hurt and next day the swelling will go way down. And every time I did get hurt it’s been in the preseason or offseason, I was like in high school or stuff so that kind of helps as well.”
Bridges recently played in just one quarter in a loss at the Milwaukee Bucks, which was the front end of a road back-to-back.
Jacque Vaughn called the light workload for Bridges that night “a negotiation tactic.”
“There is a balance to saying I want you to play but I’m also going to protect you at this time of the year with some nagging injuries,” Vaughn said.
Bridges isn’t against load management, but believes it can get excessive.
“There’s sides,” Bridges said. “There’s 82 (games)… people coming off injuries, we play so much, we’re traveling – I get it health-wise. I sometimes think in perspective just resting just because … I don’t think so. I just feel like if it’s injury-wise that makes the most sense obviously you’re not going to force somebody to play injured. Coming off injury, you want to calm it down. I think if the guy is fully healthy, I don’t think so.”
Bridges doesn’t believe he will catch A.C. Green’s record of 1,192 straight games, which went from 1986 to 20021.
“I don’t think I’m going to make it there,” Bridges said. “That’s a lot of games. That’s untouchable.”
Bridges is valuing longevity over attendance.
“I just want to play every game,” Bridges said. “That’s my thing. Even if I’m banged up and I’m hurt a little bit, if I feel like I can go, I’m gonna go.”