O'Neal's photo with Bradley sparks heated discussions! The former 2.29-meter giant is now paralyzed and amputated.

On August 18, Beijing time, a photo of "Shaquille O'Neal" and Bradley watching the Big3 League has stirred up conversations. Bradley, known as the "Big Bamboo," is one of the tallest players in league history, officially standing at 2.29 meters, which is 13 centimeters taller than O'Neal. However, the 53-year-old Bradley is now paralyzed and amputated, likely confined to a wheelchair for life. What kind of nightmare has he gone through?

Like many former NBA stars, Bradley faced the challenge of maintaining his health after retirement. During most of his NBA career, Bradley weighed 235 pounds (about 106 kg), but after retiring, his weight skyrocketed to 330 pounds (about 150 kg).

To regain his health, Bradley began cycling and incorporated it into his daily routine. He would ride on the roads of Utah and even completed several "100-mile rides" on a custom Trek road bike. However, in January 2021, his passion for cycling led to a bizarre accident.

"It was supposed to be a beautiful day, a pleasant ride. I had cycled over 25 miles, almost 30 miles. Nothing unusual. I was on a route I usually take, one I had done a dozen times. Just a block away from home, everything changed completely," Bradley recalled.

What started as a normal ride turned into a disaster—Bradley was struck from behind by a small truck. The impact propelled him into a parked car, causing him to be thrown onto the trunk of the vehicle, and then he fell headfirst onto the asphalt.

"The next thing I remember is looking at the sky; besides my eyes, I couldn't move any part of my body," Bradley said. "I felt like a horse was sitting on my chest because I was having a lot of trouble breathing. The first thing that came to my mind was to call Kelly to let her know what happened, hoping she could get here before I died."

Kelly is Bradley's second wife, and she was jogging when he was cycling. Upon hearing the news, she rushed to the hospital. Later, doctors informed the 1993 NBA second overall pick that he had suffered fractures in his neck and back from the accident. His spinal cord was not severed, but the damage was severe, and the doctors classified him as quadriplegic, meaning he was paralyzed in all four limbs.

After undergoing spinal fusion surgery, Bradley spent three weeks in the intensive care unit and then another four weeks in a rehabilitation center. Once back home, Bradley expressed feeling humbled, as he could no longer walk, stand, or get in and out of bed by himself. He also couldn't shower or change clothes without assistance.

"From being an elite athlete competing at the highest level to needing help changing my diapers, I mean, it's really not easy," he admitted. "But I believe our happiness is not determined by this accident. We do face many different things, but within those, we can still feel happiness. We can still find joy in this journey, in what we do, just in a different way."

Today, Bradley remains paralyzed and likely will never walk again. However, there has been some progress in his condition. He can now move his hands, which doctors previously thought would be impossible. He can use his phone and open soda bottles to drink. These are things most people take for granted, but for Bradley, they are significant victories and reasons to celebrate.

Many old fans remember Bradley, having seen McGrady dunk over him in that famous game, but today's Bradley is more about showcasing his resilience.