“F**k this” – Mikal Bridges reveals he was P***ED OFF at 76ers for team’s ruthlessness

Mikal Bridges recently revealed that the player didn’t appreciate Philadelphia’s treatment during the 2018 NBA Draft and was antagonized, to say the least.

“F**k this” – Mikal Bridges reveals he was P***ED OFF at 76ers for team’s ruthlessness

Mikal Bridges (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Mikal Bridges with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft but then quickly traded him to the Phoenix Suns for the 16th overall pick, Zhaire Smith, and a 2021 first-round pick. The trade significantly shaped the Suns’ future and added a talented player in Bridges to their young core.

At the time of the trade, Bridges was considered one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft, known for his standout defense at Villanova and smooth shooting stroke. The Suns saw him as a valuable addition to their team, as the franchise was in the early stages of a rebuild.

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The trade paid off for Phoenix almost immediately, as Bridges became a key contributor to their success. He played in all 82 games during his rookie season, starting 56 of them, and averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Bridges also established himself as one of the team’s best perimeter defenders and shooters, shooting an impressive 33.5% from three-point range.

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However, despite his success with the Suns, Bridges was not pleased to be traded away from his hometown team. In a recent podcast, he admitted that he was extremely upset and couldn’t control his emotions, despite going higher in the draft than he ever thought he would. Bridges wanted to be a part of the Philadelphia 76ers and was thrilled to be picked in the top 10 of the NBA draft.

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Mikal Bridges was left anguished by the Sixers on NBA draft night

Mikal Bridges playing for the Brooklyn Nets (Via NYC Post)
Mikal Bridges playing for the Brooklyn Nets (Via NYC Post)

Mikal Bridges spoke about his experience on Draft Night in the Point Forward podcast. The night, which was supposed to be the most memorable and important time in his life, turned bitter immediately after he learned of his trade to the Phoenix Suns, just 38 minutes after his draft. To say the least, he was anguished.

Bridges said, “I was pissed off.” He further added, “I didn’t think Top 10 ever. My whole life, I wanted to get drafted. I went Top 10, and I was pissed off. I couldn’t control my emotions. I was so mad.” Bridges emphasized his mood after the night ended, saying, “Even after everybody went out, I was in my hotel room, like, ‘F**K this.’ I was hot. That night, I was pretty pissed off.”

Shortly after the trade, Bridges expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for the Suns in an interview with The Athletic. He said, “I’m just excited to get out there and start playing and start contributing to the Suns.” He also expressed gratitude for being drafted in the first place, saying, “I’m blessed to be in this position, to have my name called on draft night.”

Mikal Bridges has moved past the disappointment of being traded by the Sixers. He will now have an opportunity to revenge that trade as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, who will face the Sixers in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The series promises to be an intriguing one.

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