The New York Knicks aren’t wasting any time securing their future. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the franchise has agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract extension with forward Mikal Bridges. The new deal keeps Bridges in New York through at least the 2028-29 season, with a player option in Year 5 and a trade kicker included for added protection.
Bridges was entering the final year of his current contract (2025-26), worth $24.9 million. He would have been up for free agency in 2026, but, as reported by Shams, he’s now under contract through the 2028-29 campaign. The $150 million deal marks a major pay raise for the veteran swingman, but he took a slight discount from the max ($156 million) to help the Knicks maintain financial flexibility heading into the future.
Bridges, 27, was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster offseason deal and has quickly become a centerpiece of the Knicks’ two-way identity. Known for his elite perimeter defense, durability, and offensive versatility, the former Villanova standout is now locked in as one of the pillars of the Knicks’ long-term championship aspirations.
Last season, his first with the Knicks, Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 50.0% shooting. He played all 82 games for the team, playing a crucial role in their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the locker room, his voice was key in building a positive culture and maintaining order under pressure.
While the Knicks ultimately fell short of their championship goals, they are trending upwards, and they are desperate to keep the momentum. Fortunately, thanks to recent moves, they are projected to be a major player in the East for years to come. Along with Bridges, they also have guys like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. Their most notable new addition was sharpshooting guard Jordan Clarkson, who will provide a nice spark off the bench.
With an annual salary of roughly $37.5 million, Bridges is set to become one of the NBA’s highest earners next season despite never making a single All-Star roster. After five years with the Suns and a short two-year stint in Brooklyn, Bridges has found his new basketball home, and it’s clear that both sides are happy with their current arrangement.
Bridges will be in his mid-30s when his new deal expires, and, by then, the hope is that he’ll have something to show for his loyalty. As one of the deepest teams in the East, the Knicks have a better chance to win next season than they’ve had in a very long time, and Bridges expects to be a major part of that.
With Bridges now locked in long-term, the Knicks have solidified one of the league’s most balanced starting units. If they can stay healthy and continue to build chemistry, New York will remain a serious contender in the East, and Bridges will be right at the heart of it.
