When Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were recruited by Villanova University, they didn't expect that some seven years later they would be battling it out for a spot in the top four teams in the NBA.
Roommates back in Villanova's days, they were college basketball champions together in their first season with the Wildcats.
A historic team. Brunson, even as a freshman, was the team's starter, while Mikal Bridges came off the bench in every game. The duo was champion alongside Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and also Donte DiVincenzo, who was another freshman on the team those days.
The duo's first title, in 2015-16, came with an epic decision win over North Carolina. Jenkins shot at the last second for an incredible finish. In that specific game, Brunson and Bridges had only four points, something very different would happen two years later.
As juniors (3rd year of college), Brunson and Bridges were Villanova's guys. Both had declined the draft the previous year and then decided to pursue one more title in their careers.
They were dominant. With an incredible campaign of 36 wins and only four losses, they crushed the Final Four. Triumph of 16 points against Kansas in the semifinals and by 17 in the finals against Michigan. Together they combined for 36.6 points per game (Brunson 18.9 and Bridges 17.7) for the season.
They left Villanova after three years on their way to the NBA with two titles under their belts and one of the most successful careers in the College's history.
Bridges was the 10th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers but traded the same day to the Phoenix Suns. Brunson was the 33rd pick for the Dallas Mavericks. The successful paths of the two continue in the NBA.
This Thursday, Bridges can eliminate his friend with a victory for the Suns. Brunson wants to prevent that with a Mavericks victory.
If it depends on the successful résumés and the friendship of the two, everybody is going to win.
