No, Hart! Nets, Villanova Star Mikal Bridges Rejects Another Knicks Offer
Josh Hart continues to show love for Mikal Bridges.
Yet another Villanova University alum was moved to the New York Knicks' roster on Friday, as Ryan Arcidiacono re-joined the blue-and-orange ledgers. Arcidiacono returns to New York after he was involved in the trade with the Portland Trail Blazers that brought his fellow former Wildcat Hart to Manhattan in the first place. He re-joins Jalen Brunson and newcomer Donte DiVincenzo.
With the Knicks one Wildcat away from creating an all-Villanova lineup, Hart went back on the recruiting trail: having already lured DiVincenzo over, Hart took to X to try and convince Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges to switch boroughs.
"Hit my phone," Hart pleaded. "Want to run something by you real quick."
Well used to Hart's recruitment, Bridges offered a simple reply this time around.
"I'm ok lol," Bridges declared less than 20 minutes later, answering Hart shortly before he took in the New York Liberty's postseason-opening victory over the Washington Mystics at the Nets' home of Barclays Center.
All five players involved in the discussion were part of Villanova's 2015-16 national championship group under the watch of Jay Wright. Arcidiacono provided the winning assist on Kris Jenkins' famous triple that secured a championship game victory over North Carolina in Houston.
Aaron Doster, USA TODAY SPORTS
Freshmen on the group that took down the Tar Heels, Bridges, Brunson, and DiVincenzo stuck around for another national title in 2018. DiVincenzo earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors after crushing Michigan.
Bridges, Brunson, and Hart recently reunited for the United States' men's basketball team's run at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia. While that team came home with a disappointing fourth-place finish, the trio did help Team USA clinch a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Even the shrewdest maneuvering from Leon Rose and Co., however, probably wouldn't be enough to get Bridges to cross the Brooklyn Bridge. The 27-year-old is set to be the Nets' star attraction in their first full post-Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving season, having set new career-high averages (20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists) between Brooklyn and Phoenix last season.
