Shawn Bradley, a famed player for multiple NBA teams, has been paralyzed following an auto accident, according to a statement from his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
On January 20, 2021, Bradley was “struck from behind by an automobile while riding his bicycle a mere block from his home in St. George, Utah. The accident caused a traumatic spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed.”
The statement noted Bradley’s devout faith during his recovering. “His very strong sense of faith is being tested as he participates in grueling physical therapy and learns how to cope with the challenges of paraplegia.”
Bradley asked the team to convey his appreciation for the support he has received and to let fans know he is in good spirits. He hopes to use the accident to bring awareness to bicycle safety.
Bradley first came to prominence during his high school years and went on to play for Brigham Young University. After his freshman year, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Australia. He went on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Nets, and finally, the Dallas Mavericks, who he stayed with from 1997 until his retirement in 2005. He retired with 6,752 career points, 5,268 rebounds, and 2,119 blocked shots. He is one of the tallest players to have ever played in the NBA at 7 feet 6 inches.
In 1988, KSL reporter Steve Cyphers featured Bradley in a segment at the beginning of his career. Watch it below.
