How’s this big haired ledge! That’s right, on this day, 22 years ago, Big Mark Bradtke, the gloriously maned Aussie Arvydas Sabonis, was coming to the end of his lone NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers. And, in his second-last EVER game in the NBA, the Noarlunga Leviathan had a CAREER HIGH!
Taking on the Boston Celtics, tennis legend Nicole Bradtke’s husband went to work on the immortal Brett Szabo like he was tucking into a chiko roll and a Farmers Union Iced Coffee! The NBL’s most dominant big man ever went 1-of-1 from the field and 1-of-2 at the charity stripe for a total of 3 points, the FIFTH highest scoring game of his career!
BUT! Like Clancy of the Overflow, Bradtke couldn’t and WOULDN’T be tamed, and in his 7 minutes ran more amok than my mate Tall Kane tearing up Summernats in his VL Walkinshaw SS Commodore after too many Bundy cans.
Bradtke showed why he was the best looking defensive big man in any league — like a combination of Dikembe Mutombo and John Stamos — adding 1 rebound that was more brutal than a Mark ‘Whacko Jacko’ Jackson elbow to the gut, and 2 blocks so vicious that Todd Day broke down in tears and had to be consoled by a confused Antoine Walker who figured you only cried when they screwed up your Maccas order.
Anyway. No wonder those two blocks would go down as his NBA career high! Two blocks! In 7 minutes! Reckon big Bradtke’s per-36 numbers of 10 blocks a game would make Shaq drop a growler in his size 64 shorts.
So there you go. Reckon just like Johnny Diesel said, it’s a Cryin’ Shame big Bradtke didn’t get more of a shake of the NBA sav… He had the feathery touch of a young Kareem and the rippling physique of a Big Sticks Kernahan! Big fella could’ve averaged Sabonis numbers in a heartbeat if he’d been given the chance!
He also had the greatest hair in the history of Australian basketball. It’s more beautiful than bloody Shane & Angel’s wedding!
#ONYA Big Mark Bradtke, a true blue Aussie ledge!!
