Phoenix Suns: 5 goals for Mikal Bridges’ rookie season

3. Shoot 36 percent from 3-point range

In his freshman year at Villanova, Bridges only shot 29.9 percent from 3-point range on 1.9 attempts per game. The next two years, he improved those numbers dramatically, converting 39.3 percent of his 3.1 attempts per game as a sophomore and 43.5 percent of his whopping 6.0 attempts per game as a junior.

Though there’s still a slight hitch in his form, Bridges’ high release and efficient returns from deep should make him a reliable floor-spacer from day one. Still, even the best rookie shooters typically post a slightly worse 3-point percentage than they did in college, so for the sake of keeping it realistic, we’ll set his ideal percentage around the league average — 36 percent.

For a Suns team that ranked dead-last in 3-point efficiency last year (33.4 percent), even an average touch from long range would be a welcome addition. Taking pressure off Devin Booker in any way is the goal, and though Bridges should be in the 38-41 percent range when he reaches his prime, setting the bar at 36 percent feels right for a rookie coming off the bench.