Mikal Bridges isn’t messing around when it comes to Jalen Brunson’s ESPY chances. The Knicks forward made it plain as day this week: he wants his Villanova running back turned New York teammate to sweep every single category he’s up for. No sharing. No compromises.
Bridges was on ESPN when somebody asked if he’d be okay with Brunson winning just one award. His answer was immediate, almost like the question offended him. “I hope not. I hope he sweeps everybody. Hope he wins them all.”
Brunson’s Case for a Clean Sweep
It’s not hard to see why Bridges feels that way. Brunson just finished a postseason run that’s going to haunt opposing defenses for years. He averaged 28.4 points and 6.1 assists through the playoffs while dragging the Knicks to their first NBA title in over 50 years. Fifty years. That’s not a drought anymore, that’s a whole generation of fans who had never seen it happen.
The signature moment came in Game 5 of the Finals. Brunson played 41 minutes, dropped 45 points, grabbed three boards, dished three assists, and hit four threes. He also went 13-for-15 from the free throw line, which is the kind of ice-cold efficiency that wins championships. The guy left no doubt.
The Competition Is Real
That said, the field is loaded. Brunson is nominated for Best NBA Player, Best Male Athlete, and Best Championship Performance. He’s up against Shohei Ohtani, Matthew Stafford, Lionel Messi, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama. Those aren’t easy names to beat. The Knicks as a team are also in the running for Best Team alongside eight other squads from across all sports.
But Bridges doesn’t care about any of that. He’s seen what Brunson can do up close—first at Villanova, then in practice every day, then throughout a playoff run that made Madison Square Garden feel like it was shaking every other night. His confidence isn’t blind. It’s based on results.
Will Brunson actually pull off the sweep? Nobody knows yet. But Bridges made it clear where his loyalty sits. And honestly, if you’re a Knicks fan or just somebody who respects what Brunson did this spring, rooting for the full haul doesn’t feel unreasonable.
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