Ever the revolutionary, the Dallas Mavericks’ then-executive and head coach — determined to perform a full-on roster shakeup in the winter of 1997 — agreed to terms on a nine-player trade, the league’s at-the-time largest deal in NBA history. Over the ensuing nine seasons, his newest center, Shawn Bradley, played a role in ensuring that Dallas’ on-court stature and rim protection statistics remained equally enormous. Standing at 7-foot-6 with a 90-inch wingspan and matching instincts, Bradley perfectly blended his rare traits on April 7, 1998, overwhelming the postseason-bound Portland Trail Blazers with a double take-worthy box score. A towering anchor from the Mavericks’ second unit, the former 1993 No. 2 selection tallied a 22-point, 22-rebound, 13-block masterpiece, his career’s sixth triple-double, alongside one steal and a +17 plus-minus in defeat. Citing a unique ability to recognize fear in could-be scorers’ eyes before his contests, Bradley incorporated variety into the night’s rim protection reel, mixing in chasedown swats, as well as brilliance on the offensive end. The do-it-all demonstration perfectly encapsulated Bradley’s shot-eraser skills, extending a streak that ultimately spanned eight seasons in which he ranked among the Association’s top five in blocks per game. · Apr 7, 1998