Miles Bridges will be better as a pro than with Michigan State basketball

Miles Bridges was one of the most memorable Michigan State basketball players under Tom Izzo, but here’s why he’ll be even better as a pro.

Charlotte Hornet rookie Miles Bridges had two strong years at Michigan State, but the former Spartan’s skillset favors the NBA game.

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Touting a 41-inch vertical and jaw-dropping explosiveness, Bridges exhibits extraordinary athleticism. Players can succeed in college by applying sound fundamentals such as footwork, perimeter and post moves, and finding ways to get open. But without raw athleticism, players excelling through fundamentals alone plateau before reaching NBA-level success.

With its deeper three-point line, more fluid flow, and less crowded paint, the professional game’s increased spacing and speed is advantageous for a player who is at his best attacking the basket. Onlookers witnessed glimpses of this at Summer League, where Bridges showcased his athleticism.

Another one of Bridges’ distinguishing characteristics is his ambidexterity. Bridges takes jump shots left-handed but is actually right-handed, observable by his ball handling and finishing around the basket. This caught defenders off guard throughout his college career. With more robust scouting reports, the secret is out. But as Bridges improves his ball handling and finishing near the rim with either hand, his ambidexterity is a promising sign.

Bridges embodies position-less basketball, something today’s game is trending progressively toward. Traditional, back-to-the-basket post players are becoming obsolete, replaced by more versatile and mobile big men who can shoot outside and score facing the basket.

Due to Michigan State’s lack of frontcourt depth in 2016-2017, Bridges assumed the role of an offensive post player and defended larger players. After the Spartans brought on big men the following season, Bridges moved to his more natural position on the wing. Bridges averaged a team-leading 17 points both seasons while scoring in a variety of ways across the court. His positional versatility will enable him to defend perimeter and post players man-to-man and on switches.

While some players are limited by their body frame, Bridges’ upper and lower body strength, large hands, and less than 6 percent body fat make his 6-foot-7, 225-pound frame that much more imposing.

With his fluid stroke and quick release, Bridges has potential to be a tremendous jump shooter. When Bridges returned for his sophomore season after making 39 percent of his three-point attempts as a freshman, some questioned whether his draft stock would suffer if he showed he may not have been as good of a shooter as he seemed.

Bridges followed by shooting 36 percent from three on more attempts against perimeter defenders. And he boosted his free throw shooting, the best indicator of a player’s shooting potential, from 68 percent to 85. While he is expected to be much more than a spot-up shooter, Bridges possesses the tools to, as many others have done despite the deeper distance, shoot a higher percentage from three in the NBA than in college.

Everyone that meets Bridges attests to his high level of character and work ethic, traits shown to make or break players. Bridges is coachable and willing to step out of any comfort zone. He is eager to try new things and apply them. Utah Jazz coaches attribute breakout rookie Donovan Mitchell’s success to both athleticism and aptitude in being coachable and studying film.

After being picked No. 13 in the 2017 NBA Draft, the former Louisville guard averaged 20 points his rookie season after averaging 16 in his final college season. Selected No. 12 in the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges possesses both the tangibles and intangibles to follow a similar path.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo continuously described Bridges as a blue-collar superstar. The college game was lucky enough to see his stardom for an extra year, but the NBA could witness it for years to come.