The Villanova Wildcats have become some sort of a New York Knicks factory, with the Eastern Conference franchise now boasting a number of former Villanova stars,. The latest addition to the NovaKnicks is no other than Mikal Bridges, who was traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic and a pile of future first-round picks last Tuesday.
Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright is familiar with the Knicks’ foursome of Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, and Bridges, as he coached them to NCAA titles. (Hart won a title just once with the Wildcats as he turned pro the following year — just before they won another title in 2018.)
Wright, who is no longer coaching, is happy to see his former wards find themselves on the same team in the NBA, now with a common mission of winning another championship, this time as pros.
Via Zach Braziller of the New York Post:
“Amazing. I told these guys, no one gets this opportunity to play professionally with your brothers and have a chance to win a championship,” Wright told The Post in a phone interview. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and I know they understand that, and they know they have a lot of work to do. I know they’re committed to putting that work in, and I know they know how fortunate they are.
“I was shocked, and I’m really happy for Mikal and the Knicks.”
The New York Knicks are hoping that the Villanova connection on the team will translate to a championship
The Knicks have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons but never got beyond thes second round in that span. But with a dangerous roster that features Brunson, DiVincenzo, Hart, and now Bridges, there is a belief that New York could make a deeper run in the postseason in the 2024-25 campaign. That is not to mention that they also secured the long-term commitment of OG Anunoby, who, like Bridges, is a terrific two-way weapon.
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