It may have been a slow start to the season for Mikal Bridges, but he's still going to be key to the Knicks' title aspirations.

These past few games, we’re starting to see the very best of Mikal Bridges again, which has been a reminder that there was a reason the Knicks targeted Bridges in the first place.

Mikal Bridges proved to be a Net gain for the New York Knicks on Friday night. Bridges has struggled to find his Manhattan footing since donning a Knicks jersey

At this time last season, Mikal Bridges gave a disheartened press conference about New York Knicks fans taking over a Brooklyn Nets home game at Barclays Center. One year later, he was on the other end of the crosstown rivalry.

Josh Hart was traded for one first-round pick. Mikal Bridges, the spotlighted player Friday for the interborough rivalry game, cost the Knicks five.

The Philly native became a two-time national champion at Villanova. Then he developed into a player the Knicks were willing give up five first-round draft picks to acquire.