The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Mikal Bridges to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced on Monday.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s a four-year, $90 million deal.
“Like I been preaching for a long time, I always wanted to be here, and I always want to be here,” Bridges said after shootaround on Monday. “So, just for that happening, I take nothing for granted. Just blessed and grateful for the position I’m in. The people I have around me, my family and friends. it’s just great, and I’m happy we got it done.”
Last season, Bridges averaged career-highs of 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.88 blocks while shooting career highs of 54.3% from the field and 42.5% from three-point range. The Philadelphia native recorded one of just four qualified seasons in NBA history of a player shooting at least 54% from the field and 42% from three-point range, joining John Stockton, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Michael Porter Jr.
In addition, he received the 11th-most votes for the 2020-21 NBA All-Defensive teams, just missing selection. During the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals, Bridges started all 22 playoff games, averaging 11.1 points on 48.4% shooting from the field plus 4.3 rebounds and 1.00 steals.
In three NBA seasons, the 25-year-old Bridges has appeared in all 227 of the Suns’ regular-season games. He’s the only player in the NBA to have played in every regular-season game during the past three seasons.
The Suns acquired Bridges in a draft-night trade in 2018 as he was the 10th overall pick following a decorated career at Villanova University, where he helped the Wildcats win two national titles.
Suns extend Shamet:
Phoenix also agreed to a contract with Landry Shamet. According to Wojnarowski, it’s a four-year, $43 million deal. Shamet, 24, was acquired by Phoenix in a trade with Brooklyn on August 6 and he averaged 11.0 points on 48.4% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range in four games this preseason. Shamet has completed three NBA seasons, appearing in the playoffs three times, and averaged a career-best 9.3 points for the Nets in 2020-21.
No deal for Deandre Ayton:
The Suns and Deandre Ayton reportedly could not come together on an extension before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline. According to Wojnarowski, the number one overall pick in the 2018 draft wanted a max contract, but Suns owner Robert Sarver did not offer it.
Last season, the 23-year-old Ayton averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest. Ayton can become a restricted free agent at season’s end.
