Mikal Bridges didn’t have to do much on Sunday to keep his personal games played streak alive.
This afternoon’s regular season finale meant nothing to Bridges and the New York Knicks, who had already wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Bridges was the only regular starter to even dress for the game for New York, taking the court to keep his consecutive games played streak going.
Bridges wound up playing a grand total of six seconds before committing an intentional foul and coming out of the game. It counts as a game played though, so the seventh-year wing still has not missed a game in his NBA career.
“Mikal Bridges started, committed a foul, and checked out after 6 seconds just so he could keep up his streak of games played. He’s currently at 556,” Bleacher Report tweeted.
The way Bridges handled today’s game has been up for debate, with some thinking it was an “embarrassing” move on his part and others saying they understood it.
Mikal Bridges started, committed a foul, and checked out after 6 seconds just so he could keep up his streak of games played 😭
He’s currently at 556 👀 pic.twitter.com/zBHSSg1kT9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2025
“This is lame and coming from a Knicks fan. If the streak is that important to you then actually play the game,” one Knicks fan said.
“Torn on this. respect the hustle but makes a little bit of a mockery of it at the same time,” another person added.
“This feels the same as intentionally missing a shot to secure a 10th rebound for a triple double,” a third person said.
“I, for one, remember the numerous times Cal Ripken Jr took the field in the first inning and checked out after that,” a fourth person wrote.
“Thibs plays him 50 minutes a game he deserves a day off n to keep his [streak],” another person argued.
“The fake streak continues,” a sixth person said.
His games played streak intact, Bridges will move on to getting ready for what should be a rugged first-round series for the Knicks against the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Game 1 will take place in New York next Saturday or Sunday.