Avery Bradley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Avery Bradley

Bradley with the Boston Celtics in 2017
Utah Jazz
Vice President of Player Development
Personal information
Born	(1990-11-26) November 26, 1990 (age 34) Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
High school	Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Washington) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
College	Texas (2009–2010)
NBA Draft	2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career	2010–2022
League	NBA
Career history
2010–2017	Boston Celtics
2011	→Maine Red Claws
2011	Hapoel Jerusalem
2017–2018	Detroit Pistons
2018–2019	Los Angeles Clippers
2019	Memphis Grizzlies
2019–2020	Los Angeles Lakers
2020–2021	Miami Heat
2021	Houston Rockets
2021–2022	Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Defensive First Team (2016) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2013) Big 12 All-Rookie Team (2010) First-team Parade All-American (2009) McDonald's All-American (2009)
Career NBA statistics
Points	7,279 (11.0 ppg)
Rebounds	1,863 (2.8 rpg)
Assists	1,105 (1.7 apg)

Avery Antonio Bradley Jr. (born November 26, 1990) is a former professional basketball player. He now works as the Vice President of Player Development for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns. The Boston Celtics drafted him as the 19th pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Bradley was known for being a great defender, earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Team twice while with the Celtics. He also played for other teams like the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Early Life and Basketball Start

Avery Bradley was born on November 26, 1990, in Tacoma, Washington. His parents are Avery Bradley Sr. and Alicia Jones-Bradley. He has two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger brother. His mom, Alicia, worked in a welfare office, and his dad, Avery Sr., was in the military for 22 years.

After his parents divorced in 2001, Bradley lived with his mother. He still had a close relationship with his father. His dad's military career meant they moved around the country. Bradley became a fan of the Texas Longhorns when he lived in Arlington from 2001 to 2004. In 2004, before eighth grade, Bradley and his family moved back to Tacoma. He played on the same amateur team as future Celtics teammate Isaiah Thomas.

High School Basketball Success

Bradley was considered one of the best high school basketball players in 2009. ESPNU ranked him No. 1 in the country. Rivals.com rated him No. 4, and Scout.com ranked him No. 5.

Bradley helped Findlay College Prep win the National High School Basketball championship. They beat Oak Hill Academy 56–53. After this win, Parade Magazine named Bradley the National High School Basketball Player of the Year.

He also played in the 2009 McDonald's All-American Game, which features the best high school players. He won the McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest there. Before joining Findlay Prep for his senior year, Bradley was a starter for three years at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma. He and University of Washington recruit Abdul Gaddy led Bellarmine Prep to the Class 4A State Semifinals. They finished with a 25–4 record in his junior year.

College Career at Texas

Bradley went to the University of Texas at Austin. He liked the Texas Longhorns basketball program because he had lived in Arlington as a child. There, he became a fan of former Longhorns star T. J. Ford.

In his first year (2009–10), Bradley scored 11.6 points per game for the Longhorns. He became known as one of the best defensive guards in college basketball. He was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team and received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.

In April 2010, Bradley decided to enter the NBA draft. This meant he gave up his last three years of college eligibility.

Professional Basketball Journey

Boston Celtics (2010–2017)

Bradley defending Jordan Crawford in 2011

The Boston Celtics picked Bradley as the 19th overall player in the 2010 NBA draft. On July 2, 2010, he signed his first contract with the Celtics. On the same day, he had ankle surgery and missed the 2010 NBA Summer League.

Bradley was only 19 when he joined the Celtics, who were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. He played his first regular season game in the team's fourteenth game. He scored two points in a win against the Atlanta Hawks. On January 14, 2011, Bradley was sent to the Maine Red Claws in the NBA Development League. He scored 11 points in his first game for them. The Celtics called him back on February 7 after Marquis Daniels got injured.

In one game during his rookie season, Bradley played more than 15 minutes. He scored 20 points, had three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. However, he played 10 or more minutes in only two other NBA games. He did not play in any of the Celtics' playoff games that year.

More Playing Time and Injuries

Bradley going up for a layup in 2012

During the 2011–12 NBA season, Bradley played much more. He became a starter after Ray Allen got injured. Bradley scored a lot more points this season. He scored a career-high 28 points against the Atlanta Hawks on April 20, 2012. People praised his great effort and defense. He made amazing blocks on players like Dwyane Wade and Russell Westbrook.

However, Bradley dislocated his shoulder during the 2012 NBA Playoffs. This injury needed surgery and ended his season. It was a big loss for the Celtics, who then lost to the Miami Heat in seven games in the Conference Finals.

Return and Defensive Prowess

On October 30, 2012, the Celtics extended Bradley's contract through the 2013–14 season. Bradley was still recovering at the start of the 2012–13 NBA season. The Celtics struggled without him. On January 2, 2013, Bradley returned against the Memphis Grizzlies. He got his starting spot back and helped the team win six of his first seven games.

Bradley was excellent on defense, allowing the fewest points per play in the league (0.697). But he struggled with his shooting, making only 40.2 percent of his shots. The Celtics' chances of winning big ended when Rajon Rondo tore his ACL on January 27. The Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. Bradley played hard in the last game, making all four of his shots and stealing the ball three times in the final ten minutes.

New Role and Continued Growth

The Celtics made big changes before the 2013–14 NBA season. They traded stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. The Celtics did not sign Bradley to a contract extension right away, making him a restricted free agent in 2014. However, new coach Brad Stevens trusted Bradley. With Rondo injured, Bradley started the season as the team's point guard.

This didn't work well; Bradley had more turnovers than assists. The Celtics lost their first four games. Coach Stevens then moved Bradley back to his natural shooting guard position. This helped the team, and they won four games in a row. Bradley became more comfortable and played well. He improved his scoring average each month through January. In December, he shot 50 percent on three-pointers.

On January 21, Bradley sprained his ankle and missed five games. He re-sprained the same ankle on February 5. He returned on March 14. In his fourth game back, he made a career-high six three-pointers and scored 23 points against the Miami Heat. In the next game, he scored 28 points, matching his career high. Bradley greatly improved his shooting this season. Even though the Celtics won only 25 games, Bradley was one of their most consistent players.

A New Contract and Playoff Appearance

In July 2014, Bradley signed a new four-year, $32 million contract with the Celtics. The team hoped Bradley and Rajon Rondo would be a strong backcourt. But Rondo broke his hand a month before the 2014–15 NBA season. Coach Stevens kept Bradley at shooting guard, with other players handling point guard duties.

Rondo surprisingly returned for opening night. Bradley continued his strong defense and scored double digits in 13 of the first 15 games. He scored a career-high 32 points in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics started 4–11. In December, Bradley's shooting cooled off. On December 18, the Celtics traded Rondo to the Mavericks. Many thought this meant the Celtics would not be good.

However, under Coach Stevens and with the help of Isaiah Thomas, the young Celtics got better. They had winning records in February, March, and April. Bradley's offense was especially good in February, averaging over 18 points per game. He shot 47 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three-point range. The Celtics finished with a 40–42 record, earning the #7-seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games. Bradley played well, and it was a good season for him and the team.

All-Defensive First Team Honor

The Celtics wanted to prove their playoff appearance was not a fluke in the 2015–16 NBA season. They added veteran players like David Lee and Amir Johnson. Bradley had a great dunk on Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard. After missing two games with a calf injury, Bradley came back as a sixth man. He had started 224 of 226 healthy Celtics games before this.

Bradley did well in his new role, improving his scoring and defense. He soon returned to the starting lineup on November 22. He scored at least 25 points in two games in a row and at least 10 points in 13 games in a row.

Bradley missed three games in January with a hip injury. When he returned, the Celtics became one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Bradley had many memorable games. On January 27, he scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half against the Denver Nuggets. Eight days later, he made a game-winning three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers. On February 29, he blocked a shot from Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward to win the game. Bradley was the team's second-leading scorer, behind Isaiah Thomas.

The Celtics finished with a 48–34 record, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They played the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Bradley scored 18 points in Game 1 but injured his right hamstring. This injury kept him out for the rest of the series. The Celtics struggled without him and lost the series in six games. However, Bradley's sixth NBA season was a success for him and the team. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Career Highs and Conference Finals

Bradley and the Celtics continued to improve in the 2016–17 NBA season. Bradley had his best offensive season, though injuries limited him to 55 games. He started every game he played and scored double digits in 50 of his 55 regular season games. He was a great three-point shooter. In the third game of the season, he scored 31 points and made a career-high eight three-pointers. He also had 11 rebounds as the Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets.

Bradley's scoring average was a career-high 16.3 points per game. His three-point percentage was 39.0, his best since 2013–14. His rebounding numbers also jumped, averaging 6.1 rebounds per game. He had 10 games with double-digit rebounds. On November 16, he had a career-high 13 rebounds and 18 points against the Dallas Mavericks. Bradley dealt with several injuries, especially a right Achilles injury that made him miss 22 games in January and February.

The Celtics had a successful season with a 53–29 record, earning the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. In the first round, they struggled at first against the eighth-seeded Chicago Bulls, falling behind 2–0. But they came back to win the series in six games. This was Bradley's and the team's first playoff series win since 2012. Bradley scored 24 and 23 points in Games 5 and 6. His 24 points were a playoff career high. He then scored 29 points against the Washington Wizards in Game 5 of the next round, helping the Celtics take a 3–2 lead. They won that series in seven games.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers were too strong. In Game 3, with Isaiah Thomas injured, Bradley hit a three-pointer with less than a second left to win the game for Boston. Bradley finished with 20 points. The Celtics lost the next two games and were out of the playoffs.

Detroit Pistons (2017–2018)

On July 7, 2017, the Celtics traded Bradley and a 2019 draft pick to the Detroit Pistons. This trade helped the Celtics make space to sign star player Gordon Hayward. Bradley had been the longest-serving Celtic on the team at that time. In his first game for the Pistons on October 18, 2017, Bradley scored 15 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. On November 15, he scored a season-high 28 points in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Bradley missed seven games in late December and early January due to a hip injury.

Los Angeles Clippers (2018–2019)

On January 29, 2018, Bradley was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was part of a trade that sent Blake Griffin to the Pistons. On March 13, Bradley had surgery for muscle injuries and was out for six to eight weeks.

On July 9, 2018, Bradley signed again with the Clippers.

Memphis Grizzlies (2019)

On February 7, 2019, Bradley was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Five days later, Bradley scored a career-high 33 points for Memphis in a close 108–107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

On July 6, 2019, the Grizzlies released Bradley from his contract.

Los Angeles Lakers (2019–2020)

In July 2019, Bradley signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2019–20 season was stopped in the middle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the season restarted, Bradley chose not to play. He stayed with his family because his oldest son, Liam, had a history of breathing problems. The Lakers signed J. R. Smith to take his spot. Even without Bradley, the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals. Bradley still received a championship ring for his part in the 2019–20 regular season. After the season, Bradley decided not to take the $5 million option on his contract and became a free agent.

Miami Heat (2020–2021)

On November 23, 2020, Bradley signed with the Miami Heat.

Houston Rockets (2021)

On March 25, 2021, Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and a 2022 draft pick swap were traded to the Houston Rockets. This trade was for Victor Oladipo. The Rockets decided not to keep Bradley for another year, making him a free agent.

Golden State Warriors (2021)

On September 24, 2021, Bradley signed with the Golden State Warriors. However, they released him on October 15 after four preseason games.

Return to the Lakers (2021–2022)

On October 18, 2021, the Lakers claimed Bradley from waivers. On December 10, he scored a season-high 22 points and had four steals in a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Player Skills and Style

Avery Bradley was known for his excellent defense, even though he had a build more like a point guard. He played the shooting guard position. He made up for his size with quickness, strength, and determination. Other NBA players like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum called him the best perimeter defender in the NBA.

Bradley had amazing athleticism and could jump very high. He won the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2009 McDonald's All-American Game. However, he usually didn't show off his jumping skills much in games. He focused on guarding his opponent closely and making layups. Bradley's intense defensive style was his most valuable skill. This style might have also contributed to some of the injuries he had during his career. Most of his serious injuries, which needed three surgeries, happened early in his career before he was 23.

Because of his defense and improved offense, Bradley became a very important player for the Celtics. His playing time steadily increased during his time with the team, from just 5.2 minutes per game to 33.4 minutes.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010–11	Boston	31	0	5.2	.343	.000	.500	.5	.4	.3	.0	1.7
2011–12	Boston	64	28	21.4	.498	.407	.795	1.8	1.4	.7	.2	7.6
2012–13	Boston	50	50	28.7	.402	.317	.755	2.2	2.1	1.3	.4	9.2
2013–14	Boston	60	58	30.9	.438	.395	.804	3.8	1.4	1.1	.2	14.9
2014–15	Boston	77	77	31.5	.429	.352	.790	3.1	1.8	1.1	.2	13.9
2015–16	Boston	76	72	33.4	.447	.361	.780	2.9	2.1	1.5	.3	15.2
2016–17	Boston	55	55	33.4	.463	.390	.731	6.1	2.2	1.2	.2	16.3
2017–18	Detroit	40	40	31.7	.409	.381	.763	2.4	2.1	1.2	.2	15.0
2017–18	L.A. Clippers	6	6	27.5	.473	.111	1.000	3.7	1.8	.8	.2	9.2
2018–19	L.A. Clippers	49	49	29.9	.383	.337	.800	2.7	2.0	.6	.3	8.2
2018–19	Memphis	14	14	31.6	.463	.384	.920	3.1	4.0	1.0	.0	16.1
2019–20	L.A. Lakers	49	44	24.2	.444	.364	.833	2.3	1.3	.9	.1	8.6
2020–21	Miami	10	1	21.1	.470	.421	.778	1.8	1.4	.7	.1	8.5
2020–21	Houston	17	5	23.0	.314	.270	.833	2.3	1.9	.8	.1	5.2
2021–22	L.A. Lakers	62	45	22.7	.423	.390	.889	2.2	.8	.9	.1	6.4
Career		660	544	27.5	.434	.365	.783	2.8	1.7	1.0	.2	11.0

Playoffs

College

Life After Playing Basketball

On April 16, 2024, Avery Bradley was named Vice President of Player Development by the Utah Jazz. This means he now helps players on the team grow and improve their skills.

Personal Life

Avery Bradley has a son named Avery III. His son was born in September 2013, just two weeks after Bradley's mother passed away. In the summer of 2014, Bradley started a basketball camp for kids in the Boston area called the Avery Bradley Skills Academy.

See also

In Spanish: Avery Bradley para niños