Mikal Bridges is the only Knicks player with meaningful NBA Finals experience. OG Anunoby won a 2019 championship with Toronto but did not play in the postseason. Jordan Clarkson reached the 2018 Finals with Cleveland and was swept. Bridges previously played significant minutes for Phoenix in 2021, losing to Milwaukee in six games. In the Knicks’ Eastern Conference run, Bridges faced early doubts about production and reliability. He missed a potential game-winner in Game 2 versus Atlanta, then scored zero points in 21 minutes and committed four turnovers in Game 3. After a Game 3 loss, he said he would take the setback and improve. He then bounced back, scoring 24 points in a series-clinching Game 6 blowout and scoring in double figures in each of New York’s four semifinal wins against Philadelphia. His defense improved as he matched up against Paul George and Kelly Oubre.
"As it stands, Mikal Bridges is the only member of this New York Knicks squad with real NBA Finals experience. OG Anunoby won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, but did not see the court in the postseason. Jordan Clarkson took part in the Cleveland Cavaliers' run to the Finals in 2018, but his team was swept by the Golden State Warriors. Bridges, on the other hand, played significant minutes for the Phoenix Suns in 2021, though they came up short in six games against the Milwaukee Bucks."
"In Game 2 of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks got the ball to Bridges, only for him to miss what would have been the game-winner. In the next game, Bridges had an outright disappointing performance, scoring zero points in 21 minutes and turning the ball over four times. Some wondered if head coach Mike Brown would bench the veteran forward or at least give him fewer opportunities. But Bridges said he would find a way to bounce back."
"There's no other way, it's a tough one, I've got to take it on the chin and handle it how I'm supposed to, he told reporters after the Game 3 loss. It's going to suck, it is what it is. I've got to be better and help my team out there. Bridges did steadily bounce back, improving in the next two games on both sides of the court. Eventually, he tallied 24 points in a series-clinching Game 6 blowout victory."
"His productivity carried over into the conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he scored in double figures in each of New York's four wins. His defense also showed signs of improvement, as he matched up against Paul George and Kelly Oubre. His next challenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers in th"
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