Johnson credited Bridges being a big help in a challenging 2022-23 season. Between Johnson’s meniscus surgery that November and them being traded to Brooklyn in the Kevin Durant deal three months later, Bridges helped keep him positive, especially adjusting to a new city.

True feelings will be revealed when Brooklyn faces Bridges for the first time since the trade on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

CDATA[Since being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Brooklyn Nets, Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges have taken on larger roles than they previously had. Bridges, in particular, has emerged as one of the Nets' top scorers,