Sixers Fans React to Mikal Bridges' Game 1 NBA Finals Performance

There was tons of excitement from Philadelphia 76ers fans during the 2018 NBA Draft. When the tenth pick rolled around on June 21, 2018, the Sixers selected a Malvern, Pennsylvania-born wing, Mikal Bridges.

The selection was shaping up to be a feel-good story in Philadelphia as a local kid who attended Villanova University was going to play for the local professional basketball team, which is also the organization his mother works for.

Not too long after the selection, the Sixers moved on from Bridges in the same night. Former Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who was serving as the temporary General Manager of the team, flipped Bridges in a trade with the Phoenix Suns to land Texas Tech wing Zhaire Smith and a future first-round pick.

At the time, fans were extremely disappointed in the 76ers' decision to trade Bridges for Smith, and in hindsight, they had every right to be. Three years into his Suns career, Bridges has averaged 30 minutes on the floor in 227 games. He's knocked down 50-percent of his career field-goal attempts and averaged 38-percent from beyond the arc over his first three seasons in the league, putting up 10 points per game.

Meanwhile, Smith battled setbacks, which stunted his growth early on. While the guy who drafted him made it clear that Smith was going to be a work in progress through his first few seasons, Bridges was already a regular contributor in Phoenix.

At this point, it's clear who won the trade. As the Sixers cut ties with Smith before his third year in the NBA, the Suns are utilizing Bridges as a starter while playing in the 2021 NBA Finals. While Bridges is surrounded by superior talents such as Chris Paul and Devin Booker, he's still thriving in his role. And as Bridges dropped 14 points in his NBA Finals debut on Tuesday, Sixers fans reacted as expected.

Mikal Bridges should be a Sixer man
— Boul. (@CoryTownes) July 7, 2021

The Phillies fans had to watch Ryne Sandberg have a HOF career after they gave him away. Feels like it may be the same for Sixers fans with Mikal Bridges.
— Mike Small (@realmikesmall) July 7, 2021

How Mikal Bridges mom is looking at the Sixers brass today when she’s in her office in all Suns gear. pic.twitter.com/xr0Jbgk6MK
— GRADS (@MGRADS) July 1, 2021

Sixers trading Mikal Bridges when his mom worked for the team and was in tears when was drafted there really rubbed me the wrong way, even though it was a valid business decision. Glad he's making them look dumb. I'd be so petty over that.
— AN (@fastbreakonomik) July 7, 2021

having to watch mikal bridges make plays in the finals just a few weeks after the sixers blew a series to the hawks. yous really did ruin the summer @sixers
— vince🇵🇸 go birds (@chparmsandwich) July 7, 2021

I will NEVER get over what the Sixers did to Mikal Bridges. Like, that’s gonna be the thing my grandkids gonna be like “here he goes again with this 🙄” when I’m still complaining about it as a hologram or whatever ima be in 50 years
— Jason Weintraub (@JRtheWriter) July 7, 2021

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.