How Michigan State basketball rookies do in 2018-19 NBA season?

Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges may have had a sour taste in his mouth after seeing his former team march to the Final Four without him, but it was time for him to move on from college. His career began when he was drafted No. 12 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Unlike Jaren Jackson Jr., Bridges went to a team that already had a superstar in Kemba Walker, making his chances of standing out a bit bleak. Bridges averaged under eight points, just over an assist and 4.0 rebounds per game while having a field goal percentage of 46.4. Playing in 80 games and starting in 25 of them, Bridges averaged 21.2 minutes per game.

Bridges still has plenty of time to emerge as a key player for the Hornets, and he did start the last 25 games of the season. James Borrego likely wouldn’t have started Bridges during a playoff race if he didn’t feel the 21-year-old was up to the task.

Starting Bridges during a critical part of the season is a good sign for the young player, but Bridges is going to have to beat out Nicolas Batum for starting small forward if he wants to be the man from day one. Marvin Williams just picked up his player option for next year, and he was the leading small forward for the Hornets this year, which means Bridges best shot at playing is taking over for Batum.

Outside of whether or not he’ll become a full-time starter next year, Bridges did give fans some pretty monster dunks in his first season.

He was also selected for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, of which, he came in third place.