Former NBA player Shawn Bradley was paralyzed after being hit by a car while cycling on January 20.
Bradley, a 7-foot-6 center who played for the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, revealed his injuries via a statement from the Mavericks
The 48-year-old, one of the tallest NBA players in history, says he was hit from behind while cycling near his home in St. George, Utah. The accident caused a traumatic spinal cord injury, resulting in neck fusion surgery in which he was hospitalized and underwent rehabilitation for the past eight weeks.
“We are sad to hear of Shawn’s accident,” said Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. “Shawn has always been incredibly determined and has shown a fighting spirit. We wish him all the best in his recovery. He will always be a part of our Mavs family. “
Bradley, the number 2 overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, is in good spirits and his wife Carrie is by his side around the clock.
While he does not intend to provide further updates on his health journey, Bradley expressed a desire to use the incident to “raise public awareness of the importance of bicycle safety.”
The 12-year NBA veteran led the NBA in blocks during the 1996-97 season with the Nets and co-starred in the 1996 film ‘Space Jam’.