Former Suns Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges Emotional Ahead of Return

PHOENIX -- The return is here.

It's been a long awaited day for the Phoenix Suns and their fans as they welcome the Brooklyn Nets to town, and two familiar faces are sure to bring quite the applause when they're introduced at the Footprint Center later tonight.

The impact Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges left in the Valley can't be overstated, as Suns fans still get emotional when speaking/thinking of their departure. Both played an instrumental role in helping Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals while also molding themselves as two of the more likable players in terms of their personality.

Both were included in the mega package that landed Kevin Durant in a Suns uniform at last year's trade deadline, officially putting an end to the twins' time here.

Now, for the first time with their new team, they're set to play in Phoenix in front of their former home crowd.

"It's gonna be cool man," said a teary-eyed Johnson to Suns reporters at shootaround today. Johnson drew on his experience playing at Pitt after transferring to North Carolina in college.

Johnson continued: "It's the same situation here. The last game I played in this building, I didn't know it would be my last game in a Suns uniform for that time. You just got to take it as it comes, man. Enjoy it. Allow the emotions or whatever that comes with it just apply it towards the court."

Bridges echoed that sentiment.

"It's crazy, when we first walked on the court, it didn't hit me too hard on that one. I think I was kind of chilling," Bridges said. "Towards the end of it just shooting on the court, being on the court again and going into the locker room, I walked in and was like, 'OK, this is what it feels to be in the opposing team's locker room'. When I walk in at night, I think that's when I'm gonna know."

Bridges said he was excited to see the fans and familiar faces.

"Definitely excited. Usually I'm kind of not like that, usually super locked in on the game and everything like that - which I still am - but it's a little different being here for so long and just being here, embracing the fans and everybody here. I'm just excited to see a lot of people that I've seen since I've been here," he said.

Suns-Nets will tip at 7:00 PM Arizona time.