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After the New York Knicks took home the NBA Finals, Mikal Bridges is a champion for the first time in his NBA career. Now that he has reached the mountaintop, it’s easier to revisit the darker times of his career. And during a recent livestream, the Knicks forward detailed how Kendrick Lamar helped him navigate through those dark times.
Bridges Says Kendrick’s Album Helped Him Through Depression
Bridges revealed that he was struggling with depression during one of the dark times in his career. And Kendrick’s 2022 album, Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers, helped carry him through.
“Let me be honest to ya’ll about this album, if ya’ll can hear me over this music. I was really depressed, bro,” Bridges said. “We lost to Dallas when I was in Phoenix, and I was f****n depressed, bro. This album came out, and I was just lifting. Bis Tris and chest. This s**t got me through it, I love this f****n album for real. I will love this album forever.
New York Knick player and NBA champion Mikal bridges was listening to Kendrick Lamar’s Mr morale & The Big Steppers on his ig live
— LOVE (@LOVEBACKUPFR24) June 15, 2026
Mikal also talked about how he was depressed in 2022 and how Kendrick’s music helped him get out of that depression.
“I was depressed and this… pic.twitter.com/p6TpRO7Awi
During Bridges’ time with the Phoenix Suns, they had an opportunity to advance to the Western Conference Finals in 2022. With a matchup in Phoenix in Game 7, all the advantages were in the Suns’ favor. But it didn’t turn out the way they expected. The Mavericks beat them by 33 points.
That loss ultimately led to Bridges being traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant the following February. This then led to him being traded to the New York Knicks in June 2024. Now fast forward two years, and Bridges is an NBA champion.
