NBA ex-pivot Shawn Bradley suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed, according to a statement issued on his behalf by the Dallas Mavericks.
On Jan. 20, Bradley was hit from behind by a car while riding his bike a block from his home in St. Louis. George, Utah. He underwent neck fusion surgery and has spent the past eight weeks hospitalized and undergoing rehabilitation.
“With his wife Carrie by his side twenty hours a day, and with the support of an incredible team of rehabilitation and family specialists, Bradley is in a good mood,” the statement said, in part. “He plans to use his accident as a platform to create greater public awareness of the importance of bicycle safety.”
Bradley, 48, 7 feet 6 inches tall, was the second overall pick in the 1993 draft, selected by the Philadelphia 76ers after spending two years on a Mormon mission after his freshman year at BYU. He averaged 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during his 12-season career in the NBA, spending the last eight and a half years with the Dallas Mavericks.
“We are saddened to learn of Shawn’s accident,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in the statement. “Shawn has always been incredibly determined and has shown a fighting spirit. We wish him the best in his recovery. He will always be part of our Mavs family.”