This got really awkward, really fast (see video of Mikal Bridges talking about playing for the Sixers even after he was traded away).
After the city of Philadelphia, the campus of Villanova and generally everyone on the internet was celebrating the local product Bridges being drafted by the Sixers, the team dished him to Phoenix (see story).
The news especially hit home for the Bridges family, as his mom, Tyneeha Rivers, works for the organization as the vice president of human resources at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which includes the Sixers.
This tweet just about sums it up.
Upon being drafted, there was tremendous joy for a hometown kid playing for his hometown team.
Josh Hart, Bridges' former Villanova teammate, had the tweet of the night, too.
Then everything changed after about 46 minutes.
Suns are acquiring Mikal Bridges in a deal that will send Smith to Sixers, league source tells ESPN. Suns will send 2021 first-round pick via Miami in deal too.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
The reactions started pouring in.
The Mikal Bridges story is a heartbreaking tale about a mother and her Sun.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) June 22, 2018
Mikal Bridges MOTHER WORKS FOR THE SIXERS. They drafted him, the NBA let he and his mother think he was playing for the Sixers....
And they traded him.
That's the single most incredible reverse karma moment in sports history.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) June 22, 2018
Mikal Bridges’ mom’s burner account is going to be real busy tonight.
— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) June 22, 2018
I hope Mikal Bridges’ mom makes things REAL awkward in the hallways at work tomorrow
— Kristen Balboni (@KristenBalboni) June 22, 2018
All of them, Arch, all of them. At least he found the silver lining for his former teammate.
welp, still glad you got drafted Mikal!!!
— Ryan Arcidiacono (@RyArch15) June 22, 2018
