Shawn Bradley, a German-American former professional basketball player, divorced his first wife of 25 years, Annette Evertson, and married Carrie Cannon in 2018.
He has six children from his first wife and adopted three children from his second wife’s previous relationship in 2019.
Shawn Bradley made a rare public appearance, attending the BIG3 basketball league’s Week 10 matchups, in a poignant and inspiring moment at the American Airlines Arena on Sunday.
He was paralyzed in a 2021 bicycle accident and was seen smiling and chatting warmly with Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. The encounter provided a powerful image of resilience and friendship.
Shawn was in his Quantum Rehab motorized wheelchair and posed for photos with the Hall of Famer. His appearance marked a significant public moment whose life changed irrevocably on January 20, 2021.
While riding his bicycle near his home in St. George, Utah, he was struck from behind by a minivan.
I didn’t know if that was going to be my last moment to be honest. I didn’t know if I was going to slowly pass away there on the pavement or I was going to gain function again, if I was going to be able to move and I desperately needed to talk to my wife, the love of my life.
Shawn Bradley
I just wanted to make sure I had some communication with her if those were my last moments.
The accident occurred as Shawn was passing a car parked on the road’s shoulder, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. No charges were filed in the incident.
Despite the life-altering consequences of the crash, the Bradleys have publicly expressed a profound lack of ill will toward the driver.
They emphasized forgiveness and a focus on his ongoing recovery and adaptation to his new reality.
Shawn Bradley’s Tale of Love and Divorce With Annette Evertson
Shawn Bradley, a retired professional basketball player, fell in love with a woman named Annette Evertson at their church. It was love at first sight for him.
They dated for only two months before getting married in 1993, and their marriage was like a storybook beginning.
Bradley and his first wife, Annette Evertson, had six children together. They later divorced, and in 2017, Bradley married Carrie Cannon, adopting her three children in 2019. pic.twitter.com/h4sC2aJJns
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Netizens were very interested in them because Shawn was extremely tall (7’6″) and Annette was much shorter (5’3″).
However, they were just a very loving and strong couple to their friends and family.
Shawn said Annette was his rock, especially during the busy early years of his basketball career. They were married for almost 25 years.
Annette’s words are all encouragement and love, and she used to wait for him like a schoolgirl in the corridor outside the stadium locker room, flashing him a smile and snuggling into his ribs.
Moreover, they built a happy family based on their faith alongside their four daughters, Chelsea, Ciera, Charity, and Cheyenne, and two sons, Chase and Chance.
I would not even want to think what things would be like without her. Things would be awful. I have told her, ‘Annette, I doubt I could handle this without you.’
Shawn Bradley
Unfortunately, they quietly divorced around 2017. Unlike many famous couples, they did not talk about it in public.
They never shared their private reasons for splitting up, and they both handled it with respect for each other. Annette lives a very private life out of the spotlight, focusing on her children.
Their story is about a love that built a beautiful family and a respect that kept their private life peaceful, even after their marriage ended.
Shawn Bradley’s Second Wife Became His Main Support
After divorcing his first wife, Shawn Bradley married Carrie Cannon. Her life changed completely when the athlete was hit by a car while riding his bike.
He was rushed to the hospital, and doctors discovered that his spinal cord was injured, which left him paralyzed from the chest down. He could no longer feel or move most of his body.
In that moment, Carrie became his rock and stayed strong and positive.
She thanked people for their support, but cried from the overwhelming stress when she was alone at home. She knew their entire family’s life was forever different.
Carrie chose to become Shawn’s primary caregiver. She helps him with very personal daily tasks like bathing and getting dressed.
Shawn is amazed by her love, saying this goes far beyond the usual promise to care for someone in sickness and in health.
This new life is incredibly hard for both of them. Sometimes Shawn feels like giving up when he couldn’t do simple things.
We don’t always choose our path, however we can choose how we endure the journey. Our perspective on life and family has dramatically changed in some ways, and has been reinforced in other ways the past several weeks. Shawny and I are incredibly blessed to have found each other.
Carrie Cannon
However, Carrie chooses to focus on joy and love. She often shares positive messages online, talking about how blessed they are to have each other.
Their intense love started long before the accident. Shawn had officially adopted Carrie’s children from a previous relationship, making them a close family.
Nonetheless, Shawn Bradley and Carrie Cannon have a strong partnership that not even a life-changing accident could break it. They have a powerful, lasting love.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Shawn Paul Bradley, the son of Reiner Bradley and Teresa Bradley, was born on March 22, 1972, in Landstuhl, West Germany.
- Standing 2.29 m, he comes from a tall family where his father was 2.03 m and his mother was 1.83 m.
- The Philadelphia 76ers drafted him with the second overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft.
- His net worth is estimated to be $27 million.
