Bill Bradley: A Brief Biography of the NBA Legend and His Career in Politics

Bill Bradley was born on July 28, 1943 and was raised in Crystal City, Missouri. Bradley spent long hours as a child sharpening his skills on the basketball court and it paid off. Bradley was a standout high school basketball player and went on to play at Princeton University on a Rhodes Scholarship.

Bradley was a dominating force at Princeton and proved himself to be one of the top players in the nation. He took part in the 1964 Olympic Games with U.S.A. basketball. Bradley also notched 58 points in an NCAA Final Four game in 1965. He went on to average 30.2 points per game during his years at Princeton. Bradley was known for his offensive prowess and intelligent play.

It became apparent to everyone during his college basketball career that Bill Bradley would be playing professionally in the NBA after he graduated from Princeton. With this in mind, Bradley delayed his move to the professional ranks because he wanted to attend Oxford University for two years. After he was done his schooling, Bradley would join the New York Knicks, the team that selected him in the NBA Draft in 1965.

Bradley arrived in New York City with much hype and had the city buzzing about his play. It took Bradley a while, however, to warm up to the fast paced NBA game. In his rookie season, Bradley only averaged 8.0 points per game while only appearing in 45 games. After this slow rookie season the numbers for Bradley began to pick up. His statistics were by no means impressive, but he became a fan favorite and a large part of the Knicks success. Bradley was a role player who knew exactly what his job was and he did it well. He won NBA Championships with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973.

Bradley, who was nicknamed "Dollar Bill," was known for being a very modest professional who did not often dress fancy and flaunt his money. In 1977, Bill Bradley retired from the NBA and decided to pursue a career in politics. His second career would prove to be a very successful one. Bradley announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 1978 and upon being elected, became the youngest member in the Senate. Bradley would have a successful Senate career and run for the Presidency of the United States in 2000, only to be forced to drop out during the primary stages of the election process.

Bill Bradley was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982 for his stellar play and leadership.