Shawn Bradley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Center |
|---|---|
| Height | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Weight | 275 lb (125 kg) |
| Nationality |  Germany / United States |
| Born | March 22, 1972 Landstuhl, West Germany |
| College | Brigham Young University |
| Draft | 2nd overall, 1993 Philadelphia 76ers |
| Pro career | 1993 – 2005 |
| Former teams | Philadelphia 76ers (1993-1995) New Jersey Nets (1995-1997) Dallas Mavericks (1997-2005) |
Shawn Paul Bradley (born March 22, 1972 in Landstuhl, West Germany (now Germany)) is an American 7 ft. 6 in. (2.29 m) former professional basketball player who played center for the Dallas Mavericks (NBA). His nicknames are "The Stormin' Mormon", "The Deathstick", "Missionary Impossible", the "Mormon Mantis", the "Praying Mantis" and "Siggi" (during his time in the German national basketball team).
Born in West Germany, Bradley grew up in Castle Dale, Utah, in the United States and has dual citizenship. Bradley has competed internationally for Germany; he and Dallas teammate Dirk Nowitzki were members of the German national basketball team that finished third (ahead of the USA) at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis.
Bradley was highly regarded as an NBA prospect after playing well for one season with Brigham Young University. In the 1993 NBA Draft, he was the second pick overall. During his first years with the Philadelphia 76ers, Bradley established himself as a decent pivot, sporting a nice touch around the basket (averaging 10-12 points per game) and intimidating shot-blocking abilities, denying an average 3.5 shots per game.
However, the rail-thin Bradley had a tough time against the physical centers and forwards of his generation and had a reputation for being inconsistent and not aggressive when it came to defense. He was also known for getting into foul trouble (at times, he averaged over 4 fouls per game at just under 30 minutes of playing time). Like most centers who challenge many shots, Bradley was frequently dunked on by other players. ESPN Sportscenter even featured a clip Top 10 Dunks on Shawn Bradley.
After a couple of solid years with the Dallas Mavericks, Bradley developed knee problems, which caused him to lose some of his athletic ability. His production steadily declined, and after the Mavericks acquired Erick Dampier in 2004, Bradley found himself on the bench most of the time. He announced his retirement from professional basketball in June 2005. He now coaches High School basketball in Lucas, Texas.
[edit] On-court altercations
During a March 19, 1996 game between the Vancouver Grizzlies and New Jersey Nets, 6'2" Grizzlies guard Greg Anthony threw a punch at Bradley. On January 25, 2000, during a game against the Golden State Warriors, Bradley was picked up by Warriors forward Mark Davis and slammed on the court. For his part in the scuffle, he was fined $3,000 by the league. [1]
[edit] Personal life
Bradley is a deeply religious person. When he was 19, he served for two years as a Mormon missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New South Wales, Australia. Bradley often donates to charities and is a big fan of country music. As of 2006, his wife Anette and he have six children.
He was also in the film Space Jam in 1996.
[edit] External links
- Shawn Bradley at Basketball-Reference.com
- Shawn Bradley at NBA.com
