Mark Bradtke

Mark Robert Bradtke (born 27 September 1969) is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played mainly in Australia's National Basketball League, but also had a single stint in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996-97. As well as his outstanding play, Bradtke was known in the early part of his NBL career for his mullet haircut.

In 2013 Mark Bradtke was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to basketball both in the NBL and for Basketball Australia.

Australian career

Adelaide 36ers

Bradtke was born in the southern Adelaide suburb of Noarlunga and began playing basketball in 1985 while attending Redcliffe State High School north of Brisbane in Queensland (by that stage he was already 6'8" (203 cm)). Spotted by Adelaide 36ers coach Ken Cole who signed him to the 36ers as a 16-year-old, Bradtke was tipped to make his NBL debut in 1986, but he decided to attend the Australian Institute of Sport where he attended on a scholarship in 1986 and 1987.