NEW YORK – If you saw Mikal Bridges in a New York Knicks uniform for the first time on Christmas, everything you may have heard in passing up to this point might not make sense.

Going 6 of 9 from 3 doesn’t fit the narrative that Bridges has morphed into a poor shooter with a comical shooting error. Playing 43 minutes and helping New York get crucial stops in a back-and-forth game against the San Antonio Spurs doesn’t satisfy the idea that he isn’t good enough to be the boss of a defense be the one who rises in the rankings. Doing that while dropping 41 points is actually consistent with the cost — five first-round draft picks and a first-round pick swap — it took to pry him away from the Brooklyn Nets and help with that , find out what the Knicks think is a championship contender.

Every story about Bridges stayed with him longer than it should have, as stories usually do. However, what Bridges did on Wednesday in the 117-114 win over the Spurs was a very loud version of what he had done and changed over the last month. This happened right under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day, with millions watching at home.

If ever there was a time to shake up a narrative for casual fans, it was the “unofficial” start of the NBA regular season.

“It was special,” said teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. “He was special. He picked a damn good day to do it.”

Given the attention, this could be considered Bridges’ breakthrough, and in some ways it was. He traded basket after basket with the game’s star attraction, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama – the only reason the .500 Spurs were given such prominence on Christmas. But despite what you may have heard, Bridges has been really good for most of the Knicks season so far.

Over the last 15 games, Bridges is averaging just under 20 points per night while shooting better than 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. He is one of the most efficient 3-point shooters from mid-range and corners in the league. He is one of the best non-tall defenders when it comes to stopping shots at the rim.

Bridges did all that and more – getting to the rim in transition and as a cutter – in New York’s win over San Antonio, just at an even higher level.

It feels like Bridges is constantly being asked lately about how he turned his game around. These questions would have been more appropriate more than a month ago, but it’s been so long since these narratives actually fit Bridges’ season. It feels like few people are really watching what he’s doing.

“People need to realize that not a single player in this league has a great game in all 82 games,” Knicks winger Josh Hart said. “There are ups and downs in this league. There will be peaks and troughs, which is why you always try to stay balanced. He is one who did that. He puts in the work, and when you see a man put in the work, you know what he’s capable of, the character. We knew it was time.

“He found it, and now you won’t say anything more. Get out your damn apology forms. I’ll collect them next time I play. Let the flowers be as loud as the hate.”

Go deeper

How Mikal Bridges Became the NBA’s Most Humble Trash Talker

Moving from a district where Bridges had been Brooklyn’s No. 1 option since his arrival midway through the 2022-23 season forced some adjustments. Bridges had to relearn how to play for a squad that didn’t need him as a primary scorer and instead fit in close to stars like Jalen Brunson and Towns.

The quality that attracted teams to Bridges in the first place was that he was arguably one of the best role players in the league during his time with the Phoenix Suns. He made open shots, defended at a high level and made things happen without having the ball in his hands. It took some time, but Bridges has found a way to combine the previous two phases of his career in New York.

“I continue to work every day to familiarize myself with the team and the system,” Bridges said. “Teammates found me. I just want to keep getting better.”

Bridges will always be compared to the draft picks the Knicks gave up to get him, and rightly so. Only so many players in the NBA are worth that capital. But that’s not his fault, and if the Knicks are title contenders from this year forward, who cares? The goal is to win a championship, no matter how you do it.

Bridges does what he was put here to do, which is what he can control. And New York has become better because of it.

(Top photo: Wendell Cruz / Imagn)