By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – Starting games in Steve Kerr’s lineup, Mikal Bridges contributed to Team USA’s three straight victories in the first round, qualifying for the second one where they are facing Montenegro and Lithuania.
Talking to Eurohoops during the American national team’s media availability before the clash against the Balkan side, won by the American national team 85-73, the 27-year-old praised his teammates. “It’s great, just to be around a lot of great players I think you just naturally learn from them by watching and sharing the same court. It’s dope, putting our guys together”, he said.
Averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, shooting 76.9% from two, the former Phoenix Suns player also talked about the level of intensity that the second unit brings off the bench. “It makes it so tough to beat”, he said before analyzing it more in detail. “Even if the starters struggle, we have guys from the bench who are gonna play better than the starters”, Bridges added.
“A team thinks they’re good if they play a little better than the starters at the beginning, and when the subs come in from the bench they turn up the notch. It’s crazy, getting us back in the game, and then the starters warm back up to take us further. It has been great, it’s tough the guard”, the Brooklyn Nets star commented while also touching on the status of naturalized players from America.
Finally, Mikal Bridges praised the Team USA’s coaching staff which includes future Hall of Famers Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra. “It’s all about how detailed they are. I had a thought over how they were gonna be, knowing I come from Villanova and knowing how coach Wright is. You can just tell they’re guys who won championships, it’s so detailed and locked in it makes you bring intensity every day”, he added comparing the experience to college in Villanova.
This is tough 😭 https://t.co/sXfJTgxKxe
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) August 31, 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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