Shawn Bradley facts for kids
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Bradley in 2008
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 22, 1972 Landstuhl, West Germany |
| Nationality | German / American |
| High school | Emery (Castle Dale, Utah) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Listed weight | 275 lb (125 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | BYU (1990–1991) |
| NBA Draft | 1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Pro career | 1993–2005 |
| Career history | |
| 1993–1995 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1995–1997 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1997–2005 | Dallas Mavericks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,752 (8.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,268 (6.3 rpg) |
| Blocks | 2,119 (2.5 bpg) |
Shawn Paul Bradley (born March 22, 1972) is a German-American former professional basketball player who played the center position. At 7 feet 6 inches tall, he is one of the tallest players in NBA history. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks from 1993 to 2005.
Bradley was born in Landstuhl, West Germany, because his family was living on a U.S. military base there. He grew up in the small town of Castle Dale, Utah. He has both American and German citizenship. In 2021, he had a serious bicycle accident that caused a spinal cord injury, leaving him paralyzed.
Contents
Early Life and High School Stardom
Shawn Bradley was born on March 22, 1972, into a very tall family. His father was 6 feet 8 inches tall, and his mother was 6 feet tall. By the time he was in junior high, Bradley was already 6 feet 8 inches. He grew to his full adult height of 7 feet 6 inches by the time he was 17.
Bradley grew up on a farm and was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). At Emery High School, he was a star athlete in basketball, football, and baseball. He became one of the best high school basketball players in Utah's history. His team won two state championships, and he was named All-State three times.
In his senior year, he averaged 25 points, 17 rebounds, and an amazing 9 blocks per game. He was named an All-American by many national magazines. He still holds Utah state records for the most blocked shots in a single game (18) and in a career (605).
College Career and Mission
Many colleges wanted Bradley to play for them, but he chose Brigham Young University (BYU). In his first year (1990–91), he was an incredible shot-blocker. He led the entire country with 177 blocks, which was a record for a freshman. In one game, he blocked 14 shots, tying a record set by future NBA star David Robinson.
BYU made it to the NCAA tournament that year. In the first game, Bradley set a tournament record with 10 blocked shots. After his amazing freshman season, he was named the conference's Freshman of the Year.
Bradley then took a two-year break from basketball to serve as a missionary for the LDS Church in Sydney, Australia. When he returned, he decided to enter the NBA draft instead of finishing college.
Professional NBA Career
Philadelphia 76ers (1993–1995)
Bradley was a hot topic in the 1993 NBA draft. Some people thought his height would make him a superstar. Others worried he was too thin to compete against stronger NBA players. The Philadelphia 76ers chose him with the second overall pick. To celebrate his height, they gave him jersey number 76.
The 76ers hired coaches and experts to help him get stronger. In his first season, he showed promise, especially in blocking shots. He averaged 10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. This earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
In his second season, he played all 82 games and set a 76ers team record with 274 blocks. In one game against the Los Angeles Clippers, he had an amazing 28 points, 22 rebounds, and 9 blocks.
New Jersey Nets (1995–1997)
After a couple of years, the 76ers traded Bradley to the New Jersey Nets. With the Nets, he had some of the best games of his career. In March 1996, he had his first-ever triple-double, which is when a player gets 10 or more in three different categories. He scored 19 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and blocked 11 shots.
He even recorded back-to-back games with 10 or more blocks, becoming the first player in NBA history to do that twice in one season. For the 1995-96 season, he averaged career highs in points (11.9), rebounds (8.1), and blocks (3.7).
However, when the Nets got a new coach and general manager, they decided to trade Bradley to the Dallas Mavericks in a huge deal involving nine players.
Dallas Mavericks (1997–2005)
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Bradley played the rest of his career with the Dallas Mavericks. He continued to be a strong defensive player. He led the entire NBA in blocked shots during the 1996-97 season, averaging 3.4 per game. He was the first Mavericks player ever to lead the league in any stat.
One of his most incredible games came in 1998. Playing off the bench against the Portland Trail Blazers, he scored 22 points, grabbed 22 rebounds, and blocked a career-high 13 shots. He became only the fifth player in NBA history to have a "20-20-10" game with points, rebounds, and blocks.
Bradley played seven more seasons with the Mavericks. His playing time decreased over the years, but he remained a key defensive player. He helped the team, led by stars like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, become a regular in the playoffs. He retired in 2005.
National Team Career
Bradley also played for the German national basketball team. Because he was born in Germany, he was able to get German citizenship. He played alongside his Mavericks teammate Dirk Nowitzki in the EuroBasket 2001 tournament, where their team finished in fourth place.
Life After Basketball
After retiring, Bradley began working at West Ridge Academy, a private school for at-risk youth in Utah. He serves as a counselor and mentor for the students. His height and life experiences give him a unique way to connect with them.
In 2010, Bradley ran for a seat in the Utah House of Representatives as a Republican, but he did not win the election.
Bradley has been involved in many charities. He donated money for every shot he blocked to a home for children with HIV and AIDS. He is also a spokesman for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and has helped treat leprosy colonies in India.
Personal Life and Accident
Bradley is a family man and has stood up for his religious beliefs during his career.
On January 20, 2021, Bradley was in a serious accident. While riding his bicycle near his home in Utah, a vehicle hit him from behind. The crash caused a severe injury to his spinal cord, which left him paralyzed from the chest down.
In a 2022 interview, Bradley said his extreme height makes his recovery very challenging, as there is little medical information about quadriplegia in someone so tall. He and his family planned to move to a more wheelchair-friendly home in Dallas, Texas, as he continues his rehabilitation.
TV and Movie Appearances
Bradley has appeared in movies and on TV. He had a fun role in the 1996 movie Space Jam, where he was one of the NBA players who had their basketball talent stolen by aliens. He also appeared in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger and had a small part in the movie The Singles Ward.
He was also featured in an ESPN documentary called "Posterized," which looked at how he was often on the receiving end of spectacular dunks by other players.
See also
In Spanish: Shawn Bradley para niños
- List of NBA career blocks leaders
- List of NBA annual blocks leaders
- List of NBA single-game blocks leaders
- List of tallest players in NBA history
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 13 or more blocks in a game
