Mikal Bridges deserves every moment of elation as NBA champion

Some of our biggest losses are from collateral damage, from sporting events that happened elsewhere, in games not involving teams from Arizona.

Like Aeneas Williams reaching the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. Like Randy Johnson winning his 300th game in a Giants uniform. Like Anquan Boldin starring in a Super Bowl victory for the Ravens. Like Shawn Marion winning a championship in Dallas.

But with Mikal Bridges, there is nothing but happiness.

Following the Knicks’ raucous romp through the postseason, the former Phoenix fan favorite is an NBA champion. His journey has been validated. His redemption is complete. His giddy, tipsy Instagram video is further proof of his authenticity and ebullience, and diehards can’t wait to see his encore at Thursday’s victory parade in New York City.

Because this much is also true: The joy Bridges is currently feeling is no greater than the joy he provided Planet Orange for nearly five magical seasons. He deserves every moment of elation.

Bridges’ journey has been full of unexpected twists from Day 1, when he was thrilled to be drafted by the 76ers, a hometown team that was more than local. They even employed his mother. He even put on the hat and went through media availability, only to learn he was traded to Phoenix.

Former Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough recalls their initial phone call, and how he worried that the Suns were about to shatter Bridges’ dream-come-true, forcing him to move across the country to an unfamiliar place. Yet to this day, McDonough still raves about how gracious and grateful Bridges was, refusing to let anything or anyone ruin his vibe.

Five years later, Mat Ishbia took over the Suns and promptly traded Bridges, Cam Johnson and a host of draft picks for Kevin Durant. The loss of the beloved “twins” hurt badly, but it was overshadowed by the magnitude, the headlines and the stardust of the moment. The Suns had acquired basketball royalty, a first-ballot Hall of Famer in his prime, a move that overshadowed the Super Bowl … even though we were hosting the game in Glendale.

For a stretch of 27 games in Brooklyn, we couldn’t believe our eyes. Bridges ascended like an MVP candidate, a scoring machine that had been unleashed, clearly underutilized and underappreciated in Phoenix. Then he leveled off. Then he was traded to the Knicks for even more draft picks.

Back in the Valley, we all learned hard lessons. The idea of Kevin Durant on your basketball team was much different than the reality of Kevin Durant on your basketball team. Ishbia was hit hardest of all, exposed to great criticism and roundly accused of New Owner Syndrome.

Today, Ishbia has seen the light. Maybe the peddling of Bridges taught him an important lesson in the need for chemistry (alignment), and the folly of star chasing. Meanwhile, basketball fans in Phoenix have been reminded that the journey is what matters, along with players that make themselves part of the community and us part of their journey. And in the media crucible of New York, Bridges is now an NBA champion, a goofy and lovable player who smiles frequently, dances with fans, and never takes a night off.

No one could be more deserving.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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