Sixers select Nova’s Mikal Bridges 10th overall

With the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft , the Philadelphia 76ers selected Villanova forward Mikal Bridges.

In 40 games this past season for National Champion Villanova, Bridges averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and shot 51.4 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. In Bridges, the Sixers get a guy who can fit in right away. He's widely considered to be an effective 3-and-D player, able to shoot from both mid-range and three-point range.

“When I was younger, my mom, my dad, my grandparents would always take me to games,” Bridges told NBC Sports Philadelphia after his pre-draft workout. “It's really cool seeing what they've been doing and how well-coached they are and how hard they play, how talented they are. It would just be the perfect fit.”

Here's Bridges' draft scouting video from DraftExpress & ESPN:

Leading into the draft, the Sixers were most closely connected to Bridges, Kentucky's Kevin Knox, Texas Tech's Zhaire Smith and Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. Knox went to the Knicks at No. 9. while Michael Porter Jr. went 14th to Denver. Porter Jr. was reportedly a serious consideration for Philadelphia, but ultimately Bridges was deemed the best fit, per Draft Express.

Although a number of fans would have liked to see the Sixers take Michael Porter Jr., they get a two-time champion in Bridges, a pedigree he wants to continue in the NBA.

The top-10 featured one big trade featuring Euroleague star Luca Doncic. Before we got to pick number two, news surfaced that the Hawks were trading the third pick to Dallas for the fifth pick and a future first-rounder. Atlanta went on to pick Luka Doncic, who was then sent to Dallas in exchange for Trae Young, selected fifth overall by the Mavericks.

The Sixers have four more picks in the draft, with the next one coming at No. 26 in the first-round.

Brandon Apter is a contributor to 97.3 ESPN and managing editor at SportsTalkPhilly.com. Follow him on Twitter @bapter23