In a NBA fond of ‘load management’ (plan to control the physical and mental stress of the players) and the sometimes excessive rest of its stars that the league itself wants to penalize, there is a radically different and admirable case in the star of the Brooklyn Nets, Mikal Bridges (Philadelphia, 1996). The forward, who was a college star at Villanova, has never missed a game in his career in the best league in the world. He adds 474 after 82 in 2023-24.
The Nets will not play in the Playoffs after a bad season (32-50), but Bridges responded by playing in every game and posting a stat line of 19.6 points per game. Against the Sixers, with 25 minutes in which he did not exceed 8 points (3/8 TC and 2/5 T3), he completed another perfect course. Without ever failing. An incredible record.
Bridges looks to move forward.
‘Iron Man’ has been running for six seasons and has always played them in full: 82 (2018-19), 73 (2019-20), 72 (2020-21), 82 (2021-22), 83 (2022-23), and 82 (2023-24). Yes, he even topped the matches that can be played since he was traded by the Phoenix Suns in the transfer in which Kevin Durant ended up in Arizona. He had played for the Suns and played for the Nets as soon as he landed.
Six players without missing games as a starter
The ‘Iron Man’ thing doesn’t stop there alone, because they are all like the headline. Along with Bridges there are five more players with 82 appearances in the starting quintet in the 2023-24 regular season. Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Domantas Sabonis and Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans) and Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder). The case of the center of the Western champion is particularly surprising because he went from not playing at all due to a serious injury to not failing. Besides, also leaving as substitutes, others like Buddy Hield o Austin Reaves, Obi Toppin, Paul Reed, Reggie Jackson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Cason Wallace, Georges Niang, Payton Pritchard, Christian Braun y Bobby Portis no han fallado en ninguno.
I don’t know how Mikal does it [Bridges] this every year”
Chet Holmgren
Chet left a ‘meme’ to exemplify his fatigue after never failing. When there was still a month of competition left, he had already confessed how difficult it was not to miss any of them. “I’ve only had 61 in a row, I don’t know how Mikal does this every year,” he explained.
2024-04-15 11:53:12
#missed #game #career
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