Baylor basketball senior forward Jalen Bridges has signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns.
After not being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bridges was one of the top undrafted free agents on the board, joining teammates Ja’Kobe Walter (No. 19, Toronto Raptors) and Yves Missi (No. 21, New Orleans Pelicans) as the other Bears to make the leap to the NBA.
On the way to an All-Conference Third-Team selection this past season, Bridges averaged 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 82% from the free throw line and 41% from deep.
In Baylor’s final-ever matchup against Texas as conference foes, Bridges dropped a career-high 32 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-7 from three. The Fairmont, West Virginia native started all 69 games in his two seasons with Baylor and scored over 1,000 points in his collegiate career.
Bridges has the perfect archetype for a “3-and-D” wing in the modern NBA. The Ringer calls the 6-foot-7 forward a “Dynamic shooter with clean mechanics who can run off screens or take 3s off the dribble … High-IQ player without the ball. He relocates on the perimeter for 3s and looks for cutting opportunities at the rim … Competitive defender with a long wingspan who can switch screens to defend multiple positions.”
The best teams absolutely play top tier defense.Space Cutter said:
First they don't play defense in the NBA. Secondly Bridges is a much better player than LeBron's son but in the NBA talent takes a back seat to daddy's crying.
Jalen Bridges is a Baylor Bear National Champion. Sic'em
A year older doesn't get you to go higher in the draft. The NBA would much rather have an 18-year old than a 23-year old. But Bridges will get his chances to make a roster in the next couple of years.Yogi said:
Wish he would have given Baylor one more year, helped us, and improved his chances of making an NBA team. He would have shined with next year's cast.
Bridges played for WVU in 2021-22. He did get beaten by that team, though, 94-89 in OT in Morgantown. He scored 12 pts and had 7 rebs in the loss.Space Cutter said:
First they don't play defense in the NBA. Secondly Bridges is a much better player than LeBron's son but in the NBA talent takes a back seat to daddy's crying.
Jalen Bridges is a Baylor Bear National Champion. Sic'em
Jalen Bridges vs. Santa Clara Warriors
— BGB♛ (@BonesGotBizzy) November 9, 2024
26 PTS
2 REBS
3 ASTS
2 STLS
10/20 FG
5/11 3PT
32 MIN pic.twitter.com/jWC6LIymSW
