Mikal Bridges, who never got to play in college basketball, is grateful for the patience he learned along the way.

In an interview, New York Knicks shooting guard Mikal Bridges shared his experience of not playing a single game for a season during his college years, and said that he learned to be patient during that difficult period.

Born in Philadelphia, Mikal Bridges attended Villanova University and joined the Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team in 2014. However, in his first season with the team, Mikal Bridges did not get any playing time and could only train with the team.

In the 2025/26 NBA regular season, Mikal Bridges played 82 games for the New York Knicks, averaging 14.4 points per game with a field goal percentage of 49.0% and a three-point percentage of 37.1%.

In the playoffs, Mikal Bridges continued to play an important role under Mike Brown, alongside Jalen Brunson and Anunoby, ultimately helping the New York Knicks win the NBA championship.

Recalling his first season with the Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team, 29-year-old Mikal Bridges said, "It was one of the hardest years of my life. I had been playing basketball every year since I was a kid. But when I got to college, I was told that I couldn't play for the entire season, even though I was perfectly healthy."

"That was really tough because I wanted to play and I wanted to be on the court. Getting into the Division I league is supposed to be exciting, and your family and friends are all watching. It was really hard to accept at first. I was disappointed and frustrated because I couldn't play."

In addition, Mikal Bridges added, "But in the long run, this is one of the best things that has happened to me; I have learned patience."

“I learned how to train, how to cultivate professionalism, such as how to be the last person to leave the gym, how to truly love the time spent in the gym, and everything like that, so I am always grateful for it.”

Image source: Internet