In the thick of late-season push to make the playoffs, Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego came out of the All-Star break saying he needed to make a starting lineup change.
Using just six different lineups throughout the season with all being due to an injury, Borrego has consistently stuck with Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Nic Batum, Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller as his starting five.
That changed on Feb. 22, the first game back from break.
Standing pat at the trade deadline, Charlotte sits a few games below a .500 record but is still clinging onto the eighth seed in the playoff race.
"Our starters battled defensively, our second unit battled defensively, I think the second unit came off with a little more scoring punch having Jeremy Lamb out there," Borrego said.
Bridges scored 14 points, pulled in six rebounds and had a plus-17 efficiency rating in 29 minutes of play against Washington.
“I just credit the ball movement. I started off the game getting to the rim, I tried focusing on my defense, I wasn’t really focused on trying to force up shots or do anything out of the ordinary," Bridges said. "I just tried to stick to the basics and that got me going.”
A day later, Bridges started again as the Hornets hosted the Brooklyn Nets.
Spending two years at Michigan State, Bridges was named the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Bridges averaged 17 points per game and 7.6 rebounds during his two seasons.
With the All-Star game in Charlotte, combined with his monster dunks, it seemed like a natural fit that Bridges would be invited to the dunk contest during All-Star game weekend.
In December, Bridges had a stretch where he struggled greatly. It led to the point of Borrego not playing Bridges at all for a game.
At the time, Walker labeled the stretch as just a "rookie wall,” something that Walker himself claims he went through in 2011.
Jason Huber/WFNZ Shooting 3-pointers has been a work in progress as he's hitting just 31 percent of those shots and foul trouble has still been an issue.
Nonetheless, Bridges has continued to improve his craft. What's been key to working his way out of the struggles?
Patience.
Bridges learned that during a test against the Golden State Warriors, who have won the last two league championships.
In just his third start of the season, Bridges struggled to make an impact in the first half, but went on to finish with seven points and five boards in 25 minutes, as the Hornets kept the score close.
Jason Huber/WFNZ Against the Houston Rockets, Bridges played well in the first half, scoring seven points but only had two in the second half with six rebounds in 23 minutes.
Batum compared Bridges' progress to when he got his first start as a rookie at age 19.
"It’s new for him, of course, getting adjusted. He’s been good there. We open through that," Batum said. "I remember when I was 19, and they put me into the lineup, it took me a couple of games to adjust. First game, T-Mac (Tracy McGrady) had 35 (It was actually 30) on me, so you know it’s an adjustment. He will be alright.”
Averaging 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19 minutes per game this season, there is still plenty of improvement to be made for Bridges.
But if one thing has stayed constant, it's the potential that the Hornets have continued to play the rookie.
"I think Miles skill level, athletic ability and strength and the way he plays the game with reckless abandon gives us great hope he will continue to develop," general manager Mitch Kupchak said.