Shawn Bradley Was More Than the NBA’s Posterboard

Shawn Bradley grew up in Germany and came into the NBA standing at 7'6". At this height he was the second tallest ever to play in the league (Yao Ming at 7'6", Manute Bol at 7'7", and Gheorghe Muresan at 7'7").

Bradley's career highlight was his being the league's toilet for 11 years.  Wherever a bone rattling, rim thrashing, or backboard breaking dunk occurred, Shawn was always there as the victim.

Here’s my favorite Shawn Bradley disrespectings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZlt3_UPQZY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMMex4jhL28&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ALAf186lLA

Or for your convenience, all in one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEi-Wm0OFII

No, he wasn't the toughest player in the league.  But Bradley, despite being viewed as the softest noodle to wear a jockstrap, did play a little defense in his career.

Shawn wasn't all that bad. Besides the fact that a new abuse was generated every week, Bradley was a great shot blocker.

Here's a look at just how much of a defensive player the Praying Mantis was:

10 consecutive seasons with 2.5+ BPG

Seven seasons with 3+ BPG

One season with 4.0 BPG

League leader in blocks for the 2000-2001 NBA season

Career average of 2.5 BPG

Shawn was also a good free throw shooter for a big man (a player 6'11" or taller), shooting 71.6 percent from the charity strike.

He wasn’t half bad in SpaceJam, either.

Unfortunately, a knee problem caused him to retire in 2005, ending his career and the legacy that was Shawn Bradley.