Suns’ Mikal Bridges wins second Dan Majerle Hustle Award
May 22, 2021, 2:22 PM | Updated: May 23, 2021, 12:30 pm
Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, left, tries to control the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges was surprised during a morning media session as the third-year player was awarded with his second Dan Majerle Hustle Award.
Majerle personally joined the morning Zoom call to inform Bridges that he had won the award after conceding the honors to Jevon Carter last season.
Bridges also won the award during his rookie season in 2019.
“I appreciate it, its a big honor, winning it again. I appreciate the love and appreciate just getting rewarded for playing hard,” Bridges said.
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Bridges is just the third person in Suns history to win the award multiple times, joining Grant Hill and P.J. Tucker.
“I’m happy to be part of that history,” Bridges said.
Bridges’ numbers continued to improve this season as the first-round pick enjoyed career highs in points, rebounds and blocks and improved his field goal and 3-point percentages.
A lot of Bridges’ value comes on the defensive end where the Villanova product is often asked to guard the opposing team’s primary scorer.
The impact on the defensive end of the floor is not always recognized in the stats but certainly helped Phoenix to its best record since the 2006-07 season.
He is expected to be the primary defender on Lakers star LeBron James in the Suns first round playoff series, the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2009-10.
