It feels like an annual tradition because, in many ways, it is. The New York Knicks are once again navigating a familiar stretch of the season where guard Mikal Bridges struggles to find any rhythm on the offensive end, leaving fans and analysts searching the boxscore just to confirm his presence on the floor.
That absence of production, however, has never been literal. When Bridges stepped onto the Madison Square Garden court Sunday night for a matchup against the Orlando Magic, he officially extended his remarkable NBA consecutive games-played streak to 641. Bridges remains a permanent fixture in the lineup, maintaining an ironman status that has defined his professional career.
Yet his current funk underscores a peculiar trait that has followed him through various stages of his career. When most professional basketball players experience a shooting cold spell, their struggles typically manifest as missed shots or reduced scoring averages. With Bridges, however, an offensive slump often scales to such wild extremes that his overall presence on the court seems to evaporate entirely, prompting comparisons to entering witness protection.
This recurring pattern tends to test the patience of supporters who are otherwise well aware of his capabilities. Ahead of the weekend slate, Bridges had already logged 166 appearances in a Knicks uniform, establishing himself as a core component of the roster through numerous strong performances. But the cyclical nature of his extreme offensive quiet spells ensures that his durability remains tied to bouts of profound invisibility on the court.
