Watch: Nets’ Mikal Bridges gets heavily booed on his home court despite ground-breaking 36-point outing against the Knicks

Being 27 years old and love­d for his game rituals and appealing charm, Bridges quickly be­came an essential part of the­ Nets’ team after his switch from the­ Phoenix Suns. Fighting for his team in the backdrop of another seemingly disappointing campaign for former All-Star Ben Simmons, Bridges has every reason to be disappointed.

While fans on the court may have booed him during the game, people on the internet came out in support. One fan in particular claimed that it must be difficult for a player to get booed through a game that he finished with 36 points, alongside 9 rebounds and 6 assists. As the Nets continue to struggle through what is proving to be an extremely difficult season, Bridges has emerged as a bit of a spark.

Mikal Bridges does not deserve criticism or booing

Bridges’ experience and positive attitude has been a boon for his Nets teammates and even the coaching staff, through a difficult season. The player himself described his positive attitude and claimed that he thought it was important to maintain and cherish friendships for every team. 

Apart from his off-court demeanor, the 27-year-old overall improvement has also grabbed eyeballs. Bridges is in his second season for the Nets, with both campaigns resulting in some impressive numbers. Last season, he averaged 26.1 points and 4.7 rebounds, the highest points average the player has ever returned from a full season. Additionally, this campaign, he is going at 21.7 points per game, which is his second-best scoring aggregate.

Still, the Nets’ sketchy offense and disappointing defense mean that the team has constantly struggled to get wins. They have lost 13 of their last 16 games, and are currently 11th with an overall record of 17-26. 

13 losses in their last 16 games have put pressure on the team to make strategic moves. Fans are calling for changes, but the article emphasizes the team’s reluctance to engage in a full-scale rebuild. Hence, Bridges has effectively done all he can, is the Nets’ best player this campaign, and surely does not deserve the hatred.