Knicks forward Mikal Bridges said on Wednesday that he has spoken to head coach Tom Thibodeau about dialing back his starters’ minutes to some extent, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
While Bridges acknowledged that the starters’ significant workload is one reason he broached the subject, he suggested it was more about his belief that the Knicks’ reserves are worthy of more playing time.
“Sometimes it’s not fun on the body,” Bridges said. “You’ll want that as a coach but also talked to him a little bit knowing that we’ve got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don’t need to play 48, 47 (minutes). We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes. Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there.”
Bridges has been an iron man since entering the NBA in 2018, playing in 538 out of 538 possible games, so it’s not as if he’s an advocate for load management.
But all five Knicks starters are among the top 25 NBA players in minutes per game, with Josh Hart and Bridges tied for first at 37.8 MPG. OG Anunoby (36.6 MPG) ranks sixth, while Jalen Brunson (35.4) is 20th and Karl-Anthony Towns (35.0) is 25th.
Miles McBride (24.1) and Precious Achiuwa (21.9) are the only reserves averaging more than 15 minutes per night, and Achiuwa has been in and out of the rotation since Mitchell Robinson made his season debut.
Thibodeau’s minutes distribution has long been a subject of debate, with his critics arguing that heavy workloads for his starters has caused those players to break down earlier in the season and made them more susceptible to injuries. Thibodeau’s own players have frequently defended his usage of them.
As for Bridges’ suggestion, the Knicks forward said his head coach was willing to take it into consideration.
“I think he’s not arguing about it. Sometimes I think he just gets in his ways and he gets locked in. He just wants to keep the guy out there,” Bridges said. “Sometimes you’ve got to tell him, like Landry (Shamet), for example or somebody, keep him out there, they’re playing well.”
To my fellow Knicks fans who may be worried that Bridges is soft:
This took f***ing balls.
I was wavering but I am firmly Team Mikal again. LGK!
This just proved how “soft” Bridges is. Nobody else has complained, and prior to Bridges, they all embraced their workloads. Being overpaid isn’t enough. Still got to have more time off.
Insane take when talking about a guy who’s literally never missed a game since he came into the league and has led the league in minutes three of the past 4 seasons.
And he literally says he’s not complaining about the workload, it’s about getting run for the bench players. Brunson gets hurt and yeah, you have McBride to step up and start but now you’re giving *his* minutes to a guy that’s only played garbage time minutes most of the year. Getting guys at the end of the bench a little more time on the court in real situations keeps them sharp and means you’re not throwing someone rusty out there if a starter needs a game or two off.
Is it that hard to spend 40 minutes per game standing in the corner waiting for a three on offense????
Thank god they took the lead out of paint and gasoline, look what it did to an entire generation.
Really ……. Thats such horseshhh ……. You’re ok with oneway wonder getting 350 mill. But not a top 2way player getting his. First hes on a Nets contract that is market value. Has never missed a gm ever. Goes back to HS. And he speaks up for his team. You know SQUAT. Thibs picked his bench. So he should use it. No one should avg more than 34 mins. Maybe in playoffs.
The fact is that Bridges isn’t “soft” OR “overpaid”, and he’s right.
He’s playing 4.5 more minutes per game.
Hiss contract was signed with the Suns on the previous CBA, so his $23.3 mil salary is well below what starting wings get paid under the new CBA (see Brandon Ingram’s $38 mil, OG Anunoby’s $36.6 mil or Wiggins’ $26.2 mil).
Pretty much ALL of the American players made their reputations playing 5 or more games over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday playing in the Nike EYBL, or with Adidas or Under Armour in high school. The two games played on Saturday and Sunday you would be lucky to get a 3-hour break before playing your next game. These guys were ALL playing Thibs type minutes. Bridges is soft as tissue!
So that’s why the NCAA produces Zions and Ja’s whilst the International route produces MVP calibre players…
Bridges is also American though so your point makes no sense
They aren’t 17 anymore, and the NBA is a bit more physically demanding.
They are grown men. Bigger, faster, stronger. Previous era players logged heavy minutes. Didn’t need “load management” and still performed. Larry Bird and many, many others played through things like serious back injuries. Bird had a serious back injury and played through it all the way through the playoffs …. At a high level.
Players are soft and have been babied for so long most of you don’t even know what a tough, hard nosed player is any more. Refs don’t even call traveling any more.
Spoken lik a true fan. Can you even dribble a ball. 12 players suit up. STFU
How many seasons did Bird play???
For this to come from Bridges is a big deal. The guy never wants to miss a game. I’m glad it was him and not somebody whose motive could be easily questioned.
Bridges never wants to miss a game, but many times you cannot tell he is on the floor while playing …. All the while being grossly overpaid. This guy was never that good.
Can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Nobody realized what Thibbs is? He’s done that his entire career. It’s the biggest complaint against him every time. I wouldn’t expect him to change now.
True but how often have players come to him directly with this complaint? Especially a workhorse like Bridges? Thibs ain’t getting any younger and he hasn’t won a championship. He’s smart enough to possibly adjust as this current team (as constructed; I’m talking about this year and the next couple of years; if the Knicks ever firing him, he’s probably not going to land in a great spot) is maybe the last chance he’ll ever have to contend for a title.
What has Mikhail Bridges won in the NBA???
Where did I imply that he won anything? Reading comprehension is key here. You hate Bridges and you think this generation is soft, fine. No need to drag me into an argument.
Thibs hasn’t won a championship in the league. He’s also always grinded his players down to a nub. Maybe he’s old enough to realize he needs to change slightly. That’s all I’m saying. Now I’ve said it twice.
Yeah, I’m sure players haven’t come to him very often if ever about it. It’s so obvious watching games that they are tired closing out games. Knicks have probably lost 10+ games due to end of game fatigue with their starting 5. It’s already an issue, and will be an even bigger issue in the playoffs. He needs to adjust, or Knicks are getting swept by the Celtics in round 2.
Yup… Nothing new here…
Thibs players just have to hope they are fringe rotation players… Otherwise at best they end up like Butler…
Often injured and for every good game there are 2-3 energy less games…
That complaint is BS. A d generate by jons. Go look up all his teams. Not as bas as is out there. This yr gas actually been his worst. Bridges is right. 82 gm season, plus playoffs. No one should avg more than 34 mins. Thats why you have 12 player teams. No starter in their right mind. Ever wants to come out. Today every team should be going ten deep. Perimeter D today is more running. Tiday pkayoffs are longer. 10 deep should be the standard.
Thibodeau is the polar opposite of Steve Kerr lol
Softest generation ever.
Dude has never missed a game. Ever. He’s got the tenth longest consecutive games played streak of all time link to interbasket.net
And you’re calling him soft.
Interesting take.
I’ve never heard a NBA player say “Gimmie less money”. That’s what I’m referring too, obviously scheduling/conditioning etc I would never question one’s physical toughness, but telling a coach “give us less minutes” wasn’t on my nba bingo card for 2025.
Facts! Softest generation ever!
“Softest generation ever” lol what does that even mean? Go say that to miles bridges face and see how soft he is lmao. Even Rodman took games off to party in Vegas. Is je soft? Michael Johnson Jordan took a whole year off to play..baseball…one of the toughest sports known to man lol. Is he soft? I’ll wait.
As long as you are not a woman …. Miles Bridges is as “soft” as they come. Yes, I will say that to his face. Defending a guy who beats on women bro????
I obviously meant Michael. Post the video evidence hot shot
Rodman did not take games off to party. He immediately partied after the games. Stop making crap up
Stop confusing this weak era with any other prideful era
two seconds of googling could’ve prevented this from being wrong:
“Dennis Rodman on the Time He Forgot He Had an NBA Game”
“Breaking Down The Games Dennis Rodman Missed During His Vegas Vacation”
“Dennis Rodman Skips Bulls Practice During 98 Finals To Appear on WCW Nitro”
I could keep going but those are like, three of the first five headlines when you search “Dennis Rodman missing games”
Why watch …… playoffs are longer than they ever been. Today 60% if fans dont kniw the game . You go crazy over OneWay wonder not getting 350 mill. All noise and no substance. Most post here. Without ever researching what they Oink about. Complain 70% of the time. Yet keep coming back.
Like why are you here. I doubt you watch 5 Knicks games.
Talk about soft? Can you imagine a stiff like Karl Malone getting screened and and having to switch off onto Darius Garland. He would literally break both ankles and tear a hammy trying to “guard” Boog on an island.
The game’s so much different today. You can’t thug someone and call it defense anymore. It’s also played at breakneck speeds. Constant starting, stopping and pivoting on a dime takes it’s toll on the joints. It’s a lot easier to play 36+ minutes 78 games a season when you just watch a big guy puns the basketball for 20 seconds on every possession.
Can’t “thug” somebody??? NBA changed the rules to make it more difficult to defend, and easy to score with all the “space” on the floor, and no big man in the lane. Rules of the game were changed to manipulate it for money $$$$$. NBA took the physicality out of the game to allow younger and younger players to be able to easily come into the league. The league was previously a “man’s league” and not a league for “children.
The NBA changed the rules so that you actually have to defend. You can’t just knock a guy down every time they drive or stick your hand in someone’s chest because you can’t stay in front of them. The big men still play in the lane. The only difference is instead of just standing there they set a pick and run to the basket to collapse the defense or finish a lob.
The Knicks are 6 up on the Bucks, and 5 behind the Celtics, with 18 to go. Their seeding probably won’t change. Giving the reserves more court time would allow them to be more game ready come the playoffs. The starters legs will be fresher. Why not do it?
Exactly.
Only way to develop a bench is to have them play.
Kolek looks like a solid player. And can Dadiome really not cut for layups, crash the boards, and play solid perimeter D after 7 months with Thibs? If the bench are hopeless at this point, how much of that is on Thibs?
Mad respect for Bridges…
But it’s Thibs… This isn’t new… This has happened multiple times during his career…
Go search his dtats for all his teams. This us only yr he’s done this. Please learn something.
Bridges imo has to be betterThats on offense only. He akways gets the toughest assignment on D. He and OG are the cornerstones of team D. Cause Town s is not a rim protector. I doubt anyone here understands that. Bridges is a top defender on this team. Plays the most mins. That alone is worth the money. His offense is down. To keep in mind its his first yr. Therefore FIXABLE. Mo one is more disappointed than me fior that. But in first yr here. We still got time to fix it. All you fnnn nons that claim to know ball. That don’t even watch it. But got answers. Have to be the DMFrs out here. I watch every gm. So I can talk. Most of you read box scores or hear the noise. And think you know. Takes yrs to build a team. This team is not even a year okd. But the genius got answers. Amusing as a FankenStein playing with his Curry doll.
Knicks are one of top teans this. And haven’t had a full team ALL year. Yet you git answers. I’m still looking for answers. And you will never find a more critical fannthan me. No intelligent fan expects a chip. Onyl the FankeSteins do. Us real folks we expect them to show up. Get better every yr. For a first yr team ee are fine. And a full healthy team in playoffs. Will make all you see that.
In Thibs we Trust …… not on all the FankenStein Busts …..
I told you when I campaigned for Thibs. That it was a rebuild. He’s been coach of the year. Has had best D in L. Now has one of best O in L. He has created all stars. Randle had a historically measured yr here. He has developed young talent here. Something all the same people here talking smack. Said he never does. He has redone practically the whole team this yr. In year 5 if rebuild. Yet we git geniuses with answers. I could care less who you like ot not. I could care less who you hate or not. . But get your facts man. Stop the noise. All StevenA imposters. All noise here. Hating is for children. Learn to be critical like an adult. Show some self respect. Show the facts, proof. Watch an actual Knicks gm. Do you really want to be a FanjenStein lols. Substance please.
Bridges is still disappointing this yr. That’s only if you look at his offense. If he doesn’t level up Knicks cant beat Celtics or Cavs. They will beat anyone else. So being disappointing as a player now. You don’t give up on him with 17 gms to go. Or after one year. You can do it. Real fans don’t. We get pissed and roll with it. Cause its all about Yogi …….
“They will beat anyone else”
They are 13-16 vs .500 or better teams, and also haven’t beat OKC or the Lakers. They are what that says they are – a tier 2 team that’s likely going to lose in the 2nd round if they can get past the much improved Pistons.
This is for @aristodle Only …….
OG — 43 mins, 23 pts
2WayBridges — 41 mins, 33 pts
You see, this Knick hater doesn’t understand what a 2Way player means or does. A win is a win …
link to nba.com
2WayBridges thanks you all for the HATE.
“Sometimes it’s not fun on the body,” Bridges said.
For $21,000,000 it’s not supposed to be fun on the body.
That doesn’t mean Thibs is being smart by playing his starters so many minutes in the reg season.
I appreciate this guy always playing every possible game. A true basketball player
Knicks should play a Jerry Sloan style minutes with all starters mostly playing 34 minutes a game
Sloan never won a title.
Yes but a great coach. Is he nothing because he never won a NBA title? That’s how you make it sound