So was Shawn Bradley when he played starter's minutes.
In the 437 career games in which Bradley played at least 24 minutes, he averaged 11.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and a dominant 3.6 blocks. These numbers are almost identical to the numbers Roy Hibbert and Pau Gasol put up during the 2012-13 season.
Pau Gasol & Roy Hibbert 2012-13 Averages
Name
|
Mins
|
Pts
|
Reb
|
Ast
|
Stl
|
Blk
|
FG%
|
FT%
|
Gasol
|
33.8
|
13.7
|
8.6
|
4.1
|
0.5
|
1.2
|
47.0%
|
70.0%
|
Hibbert
|
28.7
|
11.9
|
8.3
|
1.4
|
0.5
|
2.6
|
45.0%
|
74.0%
|
Average
|
31.3
|
12.8
|
8.5
|
2.8
|
0.5
|
1.9
|
46.0%
|
72.0%
|
Here is how Shawn Bradley's numbers compare to Gasol and Hibbert during the 437 career games when he played at least 24 minutes.
Name
|
Mins
|
Pts
|
Reb
|
Ast
|
Stl
|
Blk
|
FG%
|
FT%
|
Bradley
|
31.8
|
11.6
|
8.8
|
1.0
|
0.8
|
3.6
|
46.5%
|
70.0%
|
Gasol/Hibbers
|
31.3
|
12.8
|
8.5
|
2.8
|
0.5
|
1.9
|
46.0%
|
72.0%
|
Diff
|
+0.5
|
-1.2
|
+0.3
|
-1.8
|
+0.3
|
+1.7
|
+0.5%
|
-2.0%
|
Bradley was just as effective as the 2012-13 versions of Pau Gasol and Roy Hibbert when he played the same number of minutes.
Offensively, Shawn Bradley averaged just 1.2 points fewer games while actually shooting a slightly better percentage from the field (46.5% for Bradley, 46.0% for Gasol/Hibbert). Because Gasol is such a gifted passer, his 4.1 assists per game greatly exceed the more traditional center numbers from Hibbert (1.4) and Bradley (1.0).
Defensively, Bradley is clearly the best rim protector in the group when he played 24+ minutes. His 3.6 blocks per game are significantly higher than Hibbert (2.6) or Gasol (1.2). While Bradley is not remembered as a great rebounder, he was just as effective as Hibbert and Gasol on the boards.
Remember, these numbers reflect games in which Shawn Bradley played at least 24 minutes. Bradley hit this 24+ minute threshold in 437 of his 832 career games - or just over half of the time. So why didn't he play at least 24 minutes more often?
The answer is simple: He didn't fit the Dallas Maverick's up-tempo system during the last four years of his career (2001-02 through 2004-05).
The end of Bradley's career coincided with the emergence of the Steve Nash/Dirk Nowitzki/Michael Finley whirlwind Dallas offense. The Mavs finished first in points per game three times during the last four years of Bradley's career. Shawn Bradley in his thirties was not going to keep up with Nash, Nowitzki, and Finley in their primes.
So Bradley became a role player off the bench over the last four years of his career, averaging just 15.0 minutes in 277 games between 2001-02 and 2004-05. This is the primary reason behind Bradley eclipsing 24 minutes in just over half of his career games.
Gasol + Hibbert = Great
Back to the point at hand: When Shawn Bradley played starter's minutes, he was as productive as the 2012-13 versions of Pau Gasol and Roy Hibbert.
Remember, Pau Gasol is a four-time All-Star, including three straight appearances between 2009 and 2011. Roy Hibber was an All-Star in 2012. They are two of the NBA's best big men. When Shawn Bradley played the same number of minutes, his production was at the same level as Gasol and Hibbert.
Pau Gasol and Roy Hibbert are great starters, no doubt.
When Bradley played starter's minutes, he was too, once again proving our point:
Shawn Bradley Was Good!
