Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Trying to bring the ball up against Avery Bradley often felt like work before an offense had even begun, thanks to his tight on-ball pressure and refusal to give handlers a comfortable first step. Even as his perimeter shooting developed into a dependable weapon, it was his screen navigation, quick hands, and defensive intensity that consistently set the tone whenever he stepped onto the floor.

Here is detailed information about Avery Bradley:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Avery Antonio Bradley Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on November 26, 1990
  • Hometown: Tacoma, Washington, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters)
  • Weight: 180 pounds (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 12.5 (US)
  • Number: Wore 0, 11, and 20 during his career
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
  • High School:
    • Bellarmine Preparatory School (Tacoma, Washington)
    • Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada)
  • College: University of Texas at Austin (2009–2010)
  • NBA Draft:
    • 2010 NBA Draft: 1st round, 19th overall pick by the Boston Celtics
  • Teams Played For:
    • NBA:
      • Boston Celtics (2010–2017)
      • Detroit Pistons (2017–2018)
      • Los Angeles Clippers (2018–2019)
      • Memphis Grizzlies (2019)
      • Los Angeles Lakers (2019–2020, 2021–2022)
      • Miami Heat (2020–2021)
      • Golden State Warriors (2021, preseason)
      • Houston Rockets (2021)
  • Championship Rings:
    • 1× NBA Champion: 2020 (Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Kids:
    • Avery Bradley has two children, a son (Avery Bradley III) and another child whose name is not widely publicized.
  • Siblings:
    • Avery Bradley has five siblings (three brothers and two sisters).

Player Archetype / Play Style

Avery Bradley’s player archetype was that of a 3-and-D guard, a backcourt role player whose best value came from point-of-attack defense, off-ball shooting, and disciplined two-way play rather than primary creation. Defensively, he built his reputation as an on-ball stopper, with Steve Kerr calling him one of the league’s best on-ball defenders, and his long wingspan and explosiveness helped him play bigger than his 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. Offensively, Bradley was more of a secondary scorer than a lead organizer, functioning best as a catch-and-shoot threat who could also mix in pull-ups and straight-line drives without being a true drive-and-kick initiator. His overall style was compact, intense, and workmanlike, built around hounding guards, spacing the floor, and giving lineups a reliable perimeter defender who could punish open looks without needing the offense to revolve around him. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Avery Bradley defended like every possession had a personal edge to it. The first thing you notice isn’t the steals or the highlights—it’s how uncomfortable he made ball handlers long before they reached their preferred spots. He crowded dribbles without overreaching, fought over screens with almost no wasted motion and had a real feel for slipping back into the play after briefly getting clipped, which meant offences rarely gained the clean advantage they expected. That pressure bled into everything else. Ball handlers started their actions a step farther from the basket, entries arrived a beat later and timing was constantly disrupted. Offensively, Bradley was at his best playing off the gravity of others. He relocated instinctively along the perimeter, sprinted from the corner into open shooting windows and punished defenders who lost sight of him while helping at the nail. He could attack a hard closeout with one or two dribbles into a pull-up or floater, but asking him to consistently break down a set defence or manipulate multiple help defenders wasn’t where his game reached its highest level. The trade-off was that his handle was functional rather than deceptive, so possessions could bog down when he became the primary creator instead of the secondary finisher. It’s easy to overlook how much work he did before ever touching the ball. He set up his own catches by changing pace, using teammates as incidental screens and constantly forcing defenders to decide whether to stay attached or help elsewhere. Defensively, he fit naturally in aggressive schemes that encouraged point-of-attack pressure while trusting the back line to cover behind him, though his size meant bigger wings could occasionally shoot over the top or generate deep post position after switches. Put him next to a lead playmaker who bends the defence and a mobile rim protector cleaning up behind the perimeter pressure, and his strengths become amplified because he can spend most of his energy doing what he consistently did best: shrinking space on one end and capitalising on the gaps created by others on the other. His game echoed Tony Allen’s relentless perimeter disruption, while offensively sharing elements with Courtney Lee’s movement shooting and complementary scoring.

Fun Facts

  • Known for his elite perimeter defense, Bradley has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team (2016) and Second Team (2013).
  • He is also a reliable scorer, known for his mid-range jump shots and three-point shooting.
  • Played a key role for the Boston Celtics during his tenure, often guarding the opposing team’s best backcourt player.
  • Contributed to the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship-winning season in 2020, though he opted out of the NBA bubble due to family considerations.

Sources:
NBA.com — Avery Bradley | Guard | Los Angeles Lakers
San Francisco Chronicle — Warriors’ Avery Bradley: ‘I want to be the best on-ball defender in the league’
ESPN — Rating NBA tiers: Warriors to worst and every team between
NBADraft.net — Avery Bradley