On a late morning, not long after the twinkling neon lights emanating from The Strip yields to the relentless sunshine and unforgiving heat, Miles Bridges strolls down some stairs inside an air-conditioned safe haven.
His gray t-shirt emblazoned with a Hornets’ logo is soaked with sweat, clinging to his body as if he was doused with two big buckets of water. Bridges just finished getting it in, having wrapped up a lengthy workout session and maintaining his offseason regimen. He was cranking reps in the recreation and wellness center, pumping iron while some University of Nevada Las Vegas students went about their business, impervious they were even in the same vicinity as the 6-foot-7 pro.
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Understanding the significance of the time in between his rookie and second season in the league, Bridges is fully aware of the added responsibilities thrust on him with Kemba Walker’s departure. He’s not shying from it, either, and it’s one of the reasons he’s been hitting the weight room and the gym floor so frequently this offseason.
“I knew this summer was going to be a big one for me, coming off last year,” Bridges said. “I’m definitely coming in hungrier than I was last year because Kemba isn’t here first of all. And I just want to be a better player for myself, too. I know the young guys are going to have to lead the team a little bit. We still have some veteran leadership in Marvin (Williams), Nic Batum and we just added Terry (Rozier). But we have to step up in a big way. I know that I’ve got to grind.”
All while still utilizing some of the tricks and secrets he soaked up from Walker. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer is gone, but his presence remains somewhat after having a hand aiding the cultivation of the Hornets’ youthful core.
“It is working out for me,” Bridges said. “Kemba taught me a lot of things when he was in the organization and I’m going to try to apply those things to the game next year and see how it goes. But yeah, it’s going to be weird not having Kemba around. But like I said before all the young guys and all the veterans that were here before have to step up.”
Oddsmakers are banking on that not happening, with BetOnline.ag estimating the Hornets’ win total will not climb over 23.5. Some in the peanut gallery have it pegged for much lower than that and Bridges doesn’t like it one bit. It’s driving him, providing extra motivation.
“A lot of people are doubting us right now,” Bridges said. “People think we can’t even win double-digit games. So I just want to step out and prove that we are a hungry team, we are young but we are still good enough to make it to the playoffs because I feel like the young core came in and almost helped us get to the playoffs last year. So I feel like we will do the same this year.”
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Increased roles are on tap for Bridges and his two sidekicks Dwayne Bacon and Devonte’ Graham. Tagged as integral pieces of the team’s immediate future, they hang together off the court often. Quickly, they’ve built a genuine bond, probably reminiscing occasionally about their days playing in college basketball’s top conferences for their various schools.
Bridges said their connection has a direct effect on their synergy in games.
“I feel like that’s a big part of it on the court,” he said. “Guys that typically get along off the court seem to do well on the court. And I feel like that showed in summer league. I think our chemistry was second to none on the court. I feel like it’s that’s big for us hanging out off the court.”
After seeing action at small forward and power forward in his first season — his position typically depended on whether Batum, Williams or both were in the lineup with him — coach James Borrego intends on utilizing Bridges mostly at power forward in his second year. He’s unmoved by the switch and intends to expand his repertoire to allow him to flourish in the change.
“I feel like the NBA is turning into position-less basketball, so I’m not really worried about that,” Bridges said. “I’m going to work on the same things and just do whatever coach tells me to do.”
On that list? Running in transition and finishing, like he did with that Eurostep dunk in summer league. Snatching more rebounds and improving his defense and lateral movement are on the agenda, too.
Eurostep ✅
Windmill ✅Miles Bridges dunk package is crazy 😤 pic.twitter.com/WG8RBYj1Ll
— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2019
Also, mastering situational shot selection, which means hoisting jumpers upon assessing his defender’s positioning if that’s the correct play. Bridges’ jumping ability gives him great confidence taking the ball to the bucket, but the defense sometimes lulled him into getting in traffic and hoisting up difficult or well-challenged attempts.
For him to truly be one of the Hornets’ top options on offense, comprehending when to take the shot or drive to the basket and make a play needs to be chief among the apex of Bridges’ growth in Year 2.
“The message is, ‘If you’re open shoot it,'” said Hornets assistant coach Ronald Nored, one of the people who’s worked closely with Bridges during the summer. “I’m never going to have a problem with it, Coach Borrego is never going to have a problem with it. Now if you’re not open, we have to make another decision.”
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Bridges intends on heeding the memo.
“I know how not to force things now and coach, he’s giving me the green light to shoot,” Bridges said. “So anytime I’m open I’m going to shoot the ball because that’s what coach wants me to do and that’s the best shot available in the NBA — a three or a layup. So I’m still learning, but I know when to take the right shots.”
Getting the ball to him in positions where he can flourish is now partly the responsibility of Rozier and Bridges has enjoyed interacting with him. Given the talk surrounding his acquisition, Bridges expects a seamless transition of Rozier meshing with the Hornets’ younger cast of returnees.
He is excited to begin this new chapter with Rozier, who he worked out with the summer league team in Las Vegas immediately after the sign-and-trade for Walker was officially completed.
“Yeah, he has the same mindset that we have,” Bridges said. “He’s 26, so he’s considered one of the young guys and people are doubting him, that he can come in and lead a team. So he has the same mindset that me, ‘Bake’ and ‘Te’ do — which is ready to come in and win.”
(Top photo of Miles Bridges: David Richard / USA Today)