NBA FINALS: KNICKS VS. SPURS

June 9, 2026

Mikal Bridges

New York Knicks

Practice Day

Q. Now that the defeat has sunk in and you guys have watched film and talk about it more, what do you think that the Spurs did good so you couldn't play your best? Everybody here talk a lot about how the Knicks didn't play their best game.

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, they're a really good team, really well-coached. I think they came out the gates more physical than us. I think that was the main part right there, just being more physical and just the more playing-hard team than us.

Q. You and the team in general have hit some big late-shot-clock shots in recent games. I imagine you don't want to rely on that all the time. How do you feel about the amount of possessions you have going late in the shot clock right now?

MIKAL BRIDGES: I think our offense got to be way better. I think we're stagnant offensively, not helping the next guy out that's either on the ball or one pass away. I think we just got to move without the ball and be less stagnant so we can help each other out.

Q. Specifically with the ball movement, seemed like you guys thrived so much on baseline cutting in particular. Seemed like you couldn't execute on that as well as normally do. Why do you feel that was? What do you feel like you can do in Game 4 to execute on that more like yourselves?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, I think, like I said, too much ball watching, standing around. We just got to keep moving. I think they do a great job defensively with the guards. Then Wemby staying low. It can draw confusion sometimes.

I think if we keep moving, it's going to help us and benefit us.

Q. It seems like when the offense changed in the Atlanta series and Karl was more of a hub, that coincided with you becoming more effective and efficient. Is there any sort of chemistry you have with him? Eye contact, signals, or anything like that? In the fourth quarter Karl didn't touch the ball, you didn't get as many looks.

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, I think KAT is a really good passer. I've been cutting my whole life, since high school. Our second year playing together. It's kind of a rhythm thing. I think we both have an understanding of the gaps that are open when I cut.

I think I know personally when to cut. Sometimes I maybe not see the back line. Using your eyes, KAT will kind of give you a look like it's right there. I trust him, too, because he’ll lead me. Sometimes if I don't know what's there because I'm not looking there.

There's a lot of trust. I think both understanding, 'cause he can pass really well, I know I can cut pretty well, so I think just understanding of that goes really well.

Q. You've talked about ball movement. Mike was in here saying that guys were holding onto the ball too long and precious time was ticking off. When you're out there in the play, at whatever point in the game, preferably early, can players sense that? Can they see it? What reflexive reaction can you have to change it right then?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, I think it goes with the stagnant part. Sometimes if we're catching it and we're not making the move, if that guy doesn't make a move, and it maybe be stuck, none of us are helping the next guy out. Nobody is giving them the pass. Again, I think we kind of stand and ball watching, puts that guy in tough situations. They're a good defensive team. Them being in shifts, them being on ball. We're playing in their wheelhouse.

Things like that, we just got to keep moving, keep helping the next guy out. Yeah, like I said, we hold the ball a little too long on a catch. Even if we do by accident, there's going to be some times where it not going to be perfect all the time. Sometimes if somebody's near them, we can come to the ball or do something to help the next guy out, even if they do get stuck.

Q. Considering the last three games have ended with a very small margin of error, how critical can you be when looking back at them?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Yeah, for sure. We watch film. Personally for Game 3, a lot of the mistakes we had, that's controllable. It's a series, things happen. The best thing you can do is learn from it and be ready for the next game. All the small little details.

It hurts, especially when it's a close game. Small margin, where if you do those couple things, maybe it would be different.

The best thing you can do is just learn from it. That's what we're doing now, preparing to get ready for Game 4.

Q. New York is a place where everybody has an opinion. I was wondering sort of who you ran into this morning and through your day, who had an opinion for you about what you have to do differently in Game 4?

MIKAL BRIDGES: Nah. Like fans?

Q. I don't know who is there, the doorman, that kind of thing.

MIKAL BRIDGES: Everybody just excited, just say be ready on Wednesday. It's good as a fan base.

Things happen. Personally I think I played a terrible game, not playing defense well, fouling, being in foul trouble. I know personally I got to be better. I know I'm going to do whatever it takes to be ready for Game 4.

It's nice to have a sense from fans sometimes. You just walking, their mindset is on getting ready for the next game. That's our mindset as a team. You can't sulk about last game. You learn from it. That's what you got to do. You can't go about it and do nothing about it. You got to learn from it, know what you got to do better, attack the next day.

So getting that sense from the fans, you kind of see where they're at, which is pretty cool for a fan base to kind of think like that.

Q. You've been here for a couple of years now. People say it's so different to play in New York. What have you learned in the two years being with the Knicks and how different it is? Or is it any different?

MIKAL BRIDGES: For sure different. A, with the media, it's way different. With the fans, way more passionate. There's passionate fans all over. I came from great organizations where fans were very passionate. They’re just at another level.

They hold you accountable, as well. I always appreciate the greediness that they want, I think they always want what's best for the team. Even when they're holding you accountable, I think it's more knowing personally you got to go play better. They'll let you know.

If you’re tough or not in who you are as a player, if you want to get better, you understand that's what's already on your mind.

That's what I love about New York. They got just that toughness and they want the best for the team and best for you. There might be times, I've been here for two years, and I feel like they've been on me a little bit. But the thing is, obviously some can be extreme, but the real fans, there's nothing else you want more cause I know personally, like, I know if I'm going through some struggle, I know I'm trying to do whatever in my power to be better.

They stand on me and they want better, so they're going to demand it. I got nothing wrong with tough love.