Mikal Bridges has Giannis Antetokounmpo to thank for his $150 million contract from the New York Knicks. There’s a lot of optimism around the Knicks these days, even after they fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The New York Knicks officially closed the chapter on their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Mikal Bridges now signed to a four-year, $150 million extension, the team made its direction clear. They want to build around their core and move forward without waiting on the league’s biggest names.