NBA Player Swaps Basketball For Second-Grade Teaching Adventure!

Quick Smiles:

• Mikal Bridges fulfills his childhood dream of teaching second grade.
• Despite a late night game, the young students invigorated Bridges.
• Bridges sees teaching as a possible future career after basketball.

Mikal Bridges, a star forward for the Brooklyn Nets, has achieved many dreams on the basketball court, yet one aspiration remained unfulfilled: teaching second grade.

This dream came to life when he found himself in a classroom at PS 134 in Brooklyn, just hours after a victorious game against the Cavaliers.

Arriving back in Brooklyn after 1:00 a.m. from a 120-101 win, Bridges was up early to take on the role of a second-grade teacher.

Despite the lack of sleep, the students provided him with a jolt of energy.

“Their energy was just like, what got me going so fast. They got me excited,” Bridges shared.

Reflecting on his own childhood, Bridges expressed a fondness for second grade.

“I loved second grade when I was young,” he said.

“I feel like that was one of the years I really remember. Just having a great year. I had a great teacher named Ms. Porter and just I feel like I always loved second grade.”

During his day as a teacher, Bridges led a physical education class, taught math—his best subject—and even sat in on a xylophone lesson.

His passion for teaching isn’t just a fleeting interest.

Bridges told both the students and others that he is considering a teaching career after his time in the NBA.

“But basketball doesn’t go forever,” he explained to a curious student.

“This is just the first part of my journey, so I think teacher is going to come up next. Trying to do both.”

This glimpse into Bridges’ future plans adds an exciting twist to his already inspiring journey.

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