Philadelphia 76ers: Mikal Bridges brings championship pedigree to the Sixers

After months of waiting, Philly fans finally got their wish: Mikal Bridges is officially a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Dreams really do come true.

It happened. It actually happened.

After months of speculation as to what to what the team would do with the 10th overall pick, whether that be trading up, trading down, or shipping it away for a proven star, the Philadelphia 76ers have selected a hometown favorite, Mikal Bridges, with the 10th overall.

Fans, dreams really do come true

More from Philadelphia 76ers

• 3 Reasons the 76ers Should Poach Blake Griffin From the Celtics
• 3 Most Overpaid 76ers Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Ranking Daryl Morey’s 3 Biggest Mistakes with 76ers
• 3 Teams Crazy Enough to Trade for James Harden
• James Harden Putting Career in Jeopardy With Holdout Threat

One pick after watching Kevin Knox get booed by disgruntled New York Knicks fans, Bridges and the 76ers are a match made in heaven.

After being named the fifth-best prospect in the draft by ESPN’s Draft Analytics machine, Bridges bided his time, and quietly watched as flashier players were selected above him, remaining hopeful that he could play for the team his mom works for.

His dream came true as well.

Growing up a Sixers fan, this was a best-case scenario for Bridges, as he not only gets to play for his hometown team but also for a team who made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

With J.J. Redick expected to re-sign with the team in free agency, Bridges won’t have to contribute right away and will be able to learn from one of the best shooters in league history what it means to be a professional two guard.

But unlike Redick, Bridges can do a whole lot more than just shoot.

Arguably the most NBA-ready wing defender in the entire draft, the 21-year-old guard/forward could join Brett Brown‘s rotation from day one and give the team a guard who can shut down smaller guards when paired with Ben Simmons in the Sixers backcourt. His plus-athleticism and 6-foot-7, 205 pound frame when coupled with his ability to knock down open wing threes adds another dynamic athlete to the 76ers starting five that could ultimately award the team the biggest starting five in the league (average size: 6-foot-9).

And the best part? Bridges could bring some championship pedigree to South Philly

After winning a pair of championships on the Mainline, Bridges knows how to win, and could be a major boon to the team’s chances of finally taking a step forward and establishing themselves as one of the leagues nouveau elite.

Next: Mikal Bridges is ESPN Analytics fifth-best prospect

While only time will tell how Bridges fits in with his new team, and how much of an impact he will have moving forward, it’s safe to say fans will be enthralled with Brett Brown’s first pick as the Philadelphia 76ers interim GM. Welcome home Mikal Bridges!