The New York Knicks are on a historic run in the 2026 playoffs and that run has taken them to a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, but they know they're not done yet.

One of the biggest pieces to the Knicks' playoff success, especially so far in the Finals, has been the effort of Mikal Bridges. 

The Knicks paid a heavy price for Bridges when they first traded for him from the Brooklyn Nets in 2024, including seven different draft picks, but the way that Bridges has been playing on both ends of the floor has shown that the risk that was taken on him and the price that he paid was worth it. 

So far, Bridges has averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebonds and 4.5 assists in the Finals while being a huge factor on the defensive end, which is huge considering the offense that the Spurs are capable of.

Bridges is not stranger to the playoffs or even the Finals, but his past memories aren't as sweet. Bridges was part of the 2021 Phoenix Suns team that took a 2-0 advantage on the Milwaukee Bucks before losing four-straight games and yielding the championship to Milwaukee.

Avoiding a repeat of that fate is at the forefront of Bridges' mind and it's those memories that partially fuel his drive to contribute now.

"That desperation to try to be the last team standing and try to do whatever it takes to try to help my team win. After June you don't play again until October, so just trying to guve all I got and do whatever it takes for this team," Bridges said (via SNY). 

Nothing is certain in the Finals yet, even with the Knicks heading into Game 3 at home with a lead. The intensity they've shown so far will need to be constant through the rest of the series if not grow even more considering the Spurs will be playing with a high level of desperation of their own. 

Bridges and all of his contributions will need to be a part of that desperation as well, though based on his reaction to questions and everything he's said in the playoffs up to this point, him bringing intensity likely won't be a worry. 

The Knicks are building toward something special and everything they've accomplished up to this point is the culmination of their experience, intensity and togetherness. 

Bridges and everything he's done to help the team both on and off the court is one of the biggest examples of those qualities.