Shawn Bradley: 7’-6” Player in Wheelchair
Shawn Bradley is a German-American former professional basketball player. He played center for the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks. However, Shawn celebrity name is “The Stormin’ Mormon.” Bradley, who is 7 feet, 6 inches tall, is one of the NBA’s tallest players ever.
Moreover, former NBA player Shawn Bradley got disabled because of a terrible injury. A statement was released by Bradley through the Dallas Mavericks. Later, it revealed that the injury damaged his spinal cord. To know more about his early life, height, career, and accident, continue reading the article.
Shawn Bradley’s Quick Facts
| Full Name | Shawn Paul Bradley |
| Nick Name | Shawn Bradley |
| Date of Birth | March 22, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | Castle Dale, Utah |
| Nationality | German and American both |
| Age (as of 2022) | 50 years old |
| Height | 7’-6” |
| Weight | 100 kg |
Early Life of Shawn Bradley
Bradley’s full name is Shawn Paul Bradley. Shawn’s family allocated to the American military base hospital in Landstuhl, West Germany. Therefore, Bradley was born there and raised in Castle Dale, Utah. He is a citizen of both Germany and the United States. So, Shawn Bradley was born on March 22, 1972. As of 2022, Shawn is 50 years old.
In the rural area surrounding the Utah town of Castle Dale, Bradley raised on a farm. In addition, his upbringing is in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including his siblings. In Landstuhl, West Germany, his father’s employment was at a U.S. military hospital.
From 1987 until 1990, Bradley excelled in baseball, football, and basketball at Emery High School. Still, he finished his career with averages of 20.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.4 blocked shots per game. This makes him one of Utah’s greatest high school basketball players in history.
Emery accumulated a 68-4 record and two state championships while attending the institution. Also, Bradley received three All-State honors and twice won the MVP of the season title. Similarly, he had a triple-double as a senior, averaging 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 blocks a game.
Numerous national magazines, such as USA Today, Street & Smith, Parade Magazine, and others, named him an All-American. With his impressive performance at the McDonald’s All-American Game (12 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks), he was named the West team’s Most Valuable Player. Additionally, Shawn Bradley continues to retain the records for the most shots blocked in a single game (18), season (209), and career in Utah as of 2015.
Physical Attributes of Shawn
Further, Bradley was born into a tall family. His mother, Teresa, stood at 6 feet in height. His father, Reiner Bradley, stood 6 feet 8 inches tall.
By the end of junior high school, Shawn Bradley was already 6 feet 8 inches tall. Even by the end of his sophomore year of high school, he had grown to 7 ft, 5 in. It was just one inch short of his adult height of 7 ft, 6 in.
By the time he joined the NBA, he weighed 100 kg.
Basketball Career in College
Although Shawn Bradley had intense interest from numerous institutions across the country. He ultimately chose to play for Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. He started all 34 of BYU’s games during his first season (1990–1991). Where he scored 14.8 points and pulled down 7.7 rebounds per contest. Nevertheless, his primary contribution to the club was blocking.
Yet he set NCAA freshman records in both total blocks (177) and average blocks per game (5.2). It was leading the country in both metrics. Shawn blocked 14 shots in one game against Eastern Kentucky (EKU), tying the NCAA single-game record set by David Robinson of the Navy in 1986. Overall, Bradley also set a new career high in that same game by scoring 29 points.
Later, from 1991 to 1993, Shawn took a two-year leave of absence from BYU. To devote his entire time to serving as an LDS Church missionary. His duty station was Sydney, Australia. Bradley decided to forgo his remaining three years of NCAA eligibility after his mission and enter the NBA Draft instead.
Professional Journey of Bradley
1993–1995: Philadelphia 76ers
One of the most intriguing and challenged prospects ever, Bradley was selected in the 1993 NBA Draft. Due to his enormous size and unexpected quickness, supporters predicted he would rule the league. Consequently, Philadelphia’s management viewed Shawn Bradley as a significant undertaking with enormous long-term potential.
Nonetheless, mixed outcomes were seen throughout his first year. Bradley only scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in his debut, but he did manage to block eight shots in 25 minutes.
Moreover, Bradley struggled with scoring and grabbing rebounds for much of his career. But he was unbeatable at blocking shots.
1995-1997: New Jersey Nets
Despite these high points, Bradley’s erratic play continued to confound and irritate Philadelphia. He went to the New Jersey Nets by the Philadelphia 76ers for Derrick Coleman. From 1995–96, he just got 12 games into his third season.
Shawn played for the Nets for the remaining 67 games of the season. And, delighted Nets supporters with some impressive play in the second half of the year. He helped the Nets defeat the Washington Bullets in February by dominating a matchup with fellow behemoth Gheorghe Mureşan. In March 1996, Bradley upped his game to new heights.
1997-2005: Dallas Mavericks
Bradley welcomed a new franchise for a “fresh start.” In Dallas, where he saw more playing time, Shawn put up some of his finest stats to date. Surprisingly, he tied the record for the most points ever scored. In the same game, he collected a season-high 16 rebounds.
He broke career highs set the season before as the year came to end. But, more importantly, Bradley provided Dallas with the solid interior defense they lacked prior to his arrival. In reality, Shawn Bradley concluded the season as the league’s best shot-blocker. For the first time, a Mavericks player led the NBA in a certain statistical category.
Shawn’s Personal Life
Shawn Bradley married Annette Evertson for the first time. Also, he had six kids with his first wife. Sadly, Shawn and Annette parted ways. After their divorce, Bradley wed Carrie Cannon in 2017, and in 2019, they adopted her three children.
An accident caused Shawn Paul’s Injury
Bradley sustained a disastrous spinal cord injury to his neck on January 20, 2021. While riding his bicycle close to his home in St. George, Utah, he had an accident. Shawn Bradley became paralyzed as a result.
It shows that Shawn was in the process of overtaking another automobile parked on the side of the road. A driver attempted to pass him on the left in the same travel lane. Although the police report states that trip information from Bradley’s Garmin device came. However, to confirm his speed and general position, the report does not refer to the police verifying information. In fact, the driver escaped the scene of the collision before returning, according to the police report.
In a 2022 interview with Sports Illustrated, Bradley said he and his family planned to relocate to Dallas, Texas. He desired a more wheelchair-accessible home. Where he continues his recovery. Due to the lack of medical precedent for quadriplegia at his height, Bradley viewed his height as a “hindrance” to his recovery.
Appearance in Movies and TV Shows
Bradley, along with Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing, was an NBA luminary who lost their talent in the 1996 movie Space Jam. Additionally, Shawn had a cameo role as an auto mechanic in the film The Singles Ward. Moreover, he made an appearance as himself in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. In 2011, Shawn shared the screen with legendary coach LaVell Edwards, former BYU football standout Chad Lewis, and a music video honoring Jimmer Fredette.
Additionally, Shawn Bradley made an appearance in a Studio C episode. Bradley was featured in the ESPN 30 for 30 short documentary “Posterized” due to his proclivity for “being on the wrong end of a lot of amazing dunks.”
FAQ’s
Who is Shawn Paul Bradley?
He is a German-American former professional basketball player. He played center for the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks.
How tall is Shawn?
Shawn, also known as “The Stormin’ Mormon,” stands 7 feet, 6 inches tall and is one of the NBA’s tallest players of all time.
What happened to Bradley?
Bradley sustained a disastrous spinal cord injury to his neck on January 20, 2021. While riding his bicycle close to his home in St. George, Utah, he had an accident. Bradley was paralyzed as a result.
How old is Shawn Paul?
He was born on March 22, 1972. As of 2022, Shawn is 50 years old.
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