The Charlotte Hornets will be swimming in unfamiliar waters next season, as they enter the new campaign without their former cornerstone superstar Kemba Walker leading the way.
Incoming sophomore swingman Miles Bridges acknowledged this fact, saying that it will be “weird” without Walker, but at the same time, he sees this as a tremendous opportunity for the growth of his own career.
“It is working out for me,” Bridges said, via Roderick Boone of The Athletic. “Kemba taught me a lot of things when he was in the organization and I’m going to try to apply those things to the game next year and see how it goes. But yeah, it’s going to be weird not having Kemba around. But like I said before all the young guys and all the veterans that were here before have to step up.”
Last season, the former 12th overall pick averaged a lackluster 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 21.2 minutes of play as a rookie. Bridges will definitely be hoping for a much better sophomore campaign, and the 6-foot-7 forward believes that the addition of Terry Rozier should serve as a boost for him, as well as the rest of the Hornets squad.
“Yeah, he has the same mindset that we have,” Bridges said. “He’s 26, so he’s considered one of the young guys and people are doubting him, that he can come in and lead a team. So he has the same mindset that me, ‘Bake’ and ‘Te’ do — which is ready to come in and win.”
Bridges is expected to get the nod at the starting four-spot, with head coach James Borrego looking in the direction of the 21-year-old to step up his game next season.
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