The Athletic: Bridges takes young Knicks under his wing: 'You can tell his momma raised him right'

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CHICAGO — It was just before the start of the third quarter in the Knicks’ home opener when Ariel Hukporti was pulled to the side.

The final pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, Hukporti had found himself starting for just the second time in his career when the helping hand of Mikal Bridges proceeded to go over tricks of the trade with the center in the pick-and-roll. Bridges was talking, dribbling and moving Hukporti around. It’s as if the second half had already started. Hukporti was listening intently, hanging onto every word from his senior teammate.

“That was the first vet, when I came in, who took me under his wing right away,” H