.jpg?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp#){kind=tracking}
I’m one of NBA’s tallest ever players and starred in Space Jam, but traumatic bike crash left me paralyzed
Shawn Bradley is only an inch away from being the NBA’s tallest ever player. The 7ft 6in center attended BYU after being heavily recruited and served as a missionary for the Church of Latter Day-saints in Sydney, Australia, from 1991 to 1993 before deciding to go pro. Bradley has leaned on his faith to get him through tough timesGetty Bradley, known as ‘The Stormin’ Mormon’ was drafted second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1993 NBA Draft. He went on to enjoy a 12-year career that took him to the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks, retiring in 2005 with almost $70 million earned in The Association. Probably the most iconic moment of his career was a role in Michael Jordan‘s Hollywood debut — 1996 Disney classic ‘Space Jam.’ The giant was one of the NBA stars who lost their talent, alongside Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing. His brief acting career also saw him appear as himself in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger and make a cameo as a mechanic in the Mormon film The Singles Ward. Following retirement, he traveled the world for 16 years and returned to his roots in Utah. He bought a huge cattle ranch with 350 livestock and founded a heavy machinery rental company called Mammoth Machinery & Supply in North Salt Lake. “I grew up working on a ranch in Castledale, Utah, and operating equipment every day,” he told RER Mag. “Being in the equipment business is right in my wheelhouse.” Bradley has six children with ex-wife Annette Evertson and married his current partner Carrie Cannon in 2018, adopting her three kids. In 2021, their lives were forever changed as the former 76er was hit from behind by a car while riding his bicycle near his home in St. George, Utah. GettyBradley is starting to get some feeling back in his chest[/caption] View Tweet: https://t.co/Mjd2Kbl0x5 The collision hospitalized him for eight weeks with significant spinal injuries, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. “I didn’t know if that was going to be my last moment to be honest,” he told The Tamron Hall Show. “I didn’t know if I was going to slowly pass away there on the pavement or I was going to gain function again, if I was going to be able to move and I desperately needed to talk to my wife, the love of my life. “I just wanted to make sure I had some communication with her if those were my last moments.” His 350-pound frame caused problems for doctors and made dealing with his condition a struggle, needing custom beds, showers, and wheelchairs. Thankfully, Bradley has his faith to fall back on. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals “You can find triumph in tragedy,” he said. “It’s important to realize that even though you go through hard things in life, you can be positive through them. “And yes, they are going to be trying and they are going to be difficult, but they can also be for our good. They can refine us and make us who we are.” In 2022, he told Sports Illustrated that he and his family were designing a home in Texas that would be easier for him to navigate. “It’s not just the person that’s involved in the accident,” Carrie added. “It’s a domino effect. Our family has been forever changed.” Bradley enjoyed a respectable career and created a wonderful life for himself and his family. When tragedy struck, his wife stood by him and he knows the toll it has taken. “I don’t know how I can ease the burden of me,” he told SI. “Maybe it’d be better if this was just all over. Yes, those thoughts creep in—and they’re real. I can’t ever imagine myself acting on those thoughts, but I definitely have them.” Bradley spoke to KSL’s Kathy Aiken in 2023, the segment was called ‘Shawn Bradley: Strangely Grateful.’ In it, he shares insights into his struggles, but also the small triumphs as he fights to lead as normal a life as possible and regains some function in his hands. The next chapter in an incredible journey.
Shawn Bradley is only an inch away from being the NBA’s tallest ever player.
The 7ft 6in center attended BYU after being heavily recruited and served as a missionary for the Church of Latter Day-saints in Sydney, Australia, from 1991 to 1993 before deciding to go pro.
Bradley, known as ‘The Stormin’ Mormon’ was drafted second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1993 NBA Draft.
He went on to enjoy a 12-year career that took him to the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks, retiring in 2005 with almost $70 million earned in The Association.
Probably the most iconic moment of his career was a role in Michael Jordan‘s Hollywood debut — 1996 Disney classic ‘Space Jam.’
The giant was one of the NBA stars who lost their talent, alongside Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing.
His brief acting career also saw him appear as himself in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger and make a cameo as a mechanic in the Mormon film The Singles Ward.
Following retirement, he traveled the world for 16 years and returned to his roots in Utah.
He bought a huge cattle ranch with 350 livestock and founded a heavy machinery rental company called Mammoth Machinery & Supply in North Salt Lake.
“I grew up working on a ranch in Castledale, Utah, and operating equipment every day,” he told RER Mag. “Being in the equipment business is right in my wheelhouse.”
Bradley has six children with ex-wife Annette Evertson and married his current partner Carrie Cannon in 2018, adopting her three kids.
In 2021, their lives were forever changed as the former 76er was hit from behind by a car while riding his bicycle near his home in St. George, Utah.
The collision hospitalized him for eight weeks with significant spinal injuries, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.
“I didn’t know if that was going to be my last moment to be honest,” he told The Tamron Hall Show.
“I didn’t know if I was going to slowly pass away there on the pavement or I was going to gain function again, if I was going to be able to move and I desperately needed to talk to my wife, the love of my life.
“I just wanted to make sure I had some communication with her if those were my last moments.”
His 350-pound frame caused problems for doctors and made dealing with his condition a struggle, needing custom beds, showers, and wheelchairs.
Thankfully, Bradley has his faith to fall back on.
NBA's Greatest
Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama
Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus
Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
“You can find triumph in tragedy,” he said.
“It’s important to realize that even though you go through hard things in life, you can be positive through them.
“And yes, they are going to be trying and they are going to be difficult, but they can also be for our good. They can refine us and make us who we are.”
In 2022, he told Sports Illustrated that he and his family were designing a home in Texas that would be easier for him to navigate.
“It’s not just the person that’s involved in the accident,” Carrie added. “It’s a domino effect. Our family has been forever changed.”
Bradley enjoyed a respectable career and created a wonderful life for himself and his family.
When tragedy struck, his wife stood by him and he knows the toll it has taken.
“I don’t know how I can ease the burden of me,” he told SI.
“Maybe it’d be better if this was just all over. Yes, those thoughts creep in—and they’re real. I can’t ever imagine myself acting on those thoughts, but I definitely have them.”
Bradley spoke to KSL’s Kathy Aiken in 2023, the segment was called ‘Shawn Bradley: Strangely Grateful.’
In it, he shares insights into his struggles, but also the small triumphs as he fights to lead as normal a life as possible and regains some function in his hands.
The next chapter in an incredible journey.
