Bruce Bowen

infobox NBA Player


name = Bruce Bowen
position = Small forward
height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7
weight_lbs = 200
league = NBA
team = San Antonio Spurs
number = 12
nationality = American
birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1971|6|14
birth_place = Merced, California
highschool = Edison
college = Cal State Fullerton
draft = Undrafted
career_start = 1993
former_teams = Le Havre (1993–1994)
Evreux (1994–1995)
Rockford Lightning (1995–1996, 1997)
Besançon (1996–1997)
Miami Heat (1997, 2000–2001)
Boston Celtics (1997–1999)
Philadelphia 76ers (1999–2000)
awards =

Bruce Bowen Jr. (born June 14, 1971) is an American professional basketball player. The 6'7", convert|200|lb|abbr=on. Bowen plays small forward for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is an alumnus of Edison High Schoolcite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR2005061301761.html|title=Bowen Has Every Right and Reason to Be Defensive|publisher=washingtonpost.com|first=Mike|last=Wise|date=2007-06-14|accessdate=2008-03-09] and Cal State Fullerton and also a former member of the NBA's Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers and the CBA's Rockford Lightning, also having played abroad in France. Regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA, Bowen has been elected eight times to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams, and was a member of the Spurs teams that won the NBA championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.cite web|url=http://basketball-reference.com/players/b/bowenbr01.html|title=Bruce Bowen Statistics|publisher=basketball-reference.com|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09] In private life, he is an ambassador for raising child obesity awareness.

Early years

Bruce Bowen Jr. was born in Merced, California as son of Bruce Bowen Sr. and Dietra Campbell. Bowen had a problematic childhood growing up in Merced, because his mother took drugs and even sold the family TV to feed her habit.cite web|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20030608/ai_n10879297|title=For Bowen, this is the easy part|last=Weise|first=Mike|date=2007-04-11|publisher=findarticles.com|accessdate=2008-03-09] Bruce Jr. spent his days playing basketball and eventually became a star in the local West Fresno Edison High School squad. After receiving a scholarship, Bowen played four seasons at Cal State Fullerton, appearing in 101 games, and averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bruce_bowen/bio.html|title=Bruce Bowen Info Page|publisher=nba.com|first=|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09] He averaged 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 36.6 minutes in 27 games as a senior in 1992–93, paving the way for him to be named to the All-Big West Conference First Team. Bowen ranks 12th on the Titans’ all-time list in career points (1,155) and is seventh all-time in rebounds (559).cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/biosmen/bruce_bowen_bio.html |title=USA Basketball: Bio of Bruce Bowen|publisher=usabasketball.com|first=|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Professional career

Early struggles (1993-1997)

Bowen made himself eligible for the 1993 NBA Draft, but went undrafted. Instead, he seemed to be destined to become a journeyman. Between 1993 and 1997, Bowen frequently changed teams, playing for the French teams of Le Havre in 1993–94 and Evreux the following season. In 1995–96 he played in the CBA with Rockford Lightning; he spent the next season back in France with Besançon, before returning to the Lightning in February 1997. Bowen made his NBA debut when he was signed to a ten-day contract by the Miami Heat the following month. His output consisted of 1 game, 1 minute and 1 block.

Getting settled (1997-2001)

In the 1997-98 NBA season, Bowen reappeared in the NBA, being signed by the Boston Celtics. With the Celtics, Bowen slowly established himself in the NBA. In his first full year as an NBA player, he appeared in 61 games (nine of them as starter) with the Celtics, averaging 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.43 steals in 21.4 minutes per game, shooting .409 from the field, .339 from three-point land and .623 from the free throw line. The next year was a bit of a disappointment, as Bowen appeared in only 30 Celtics games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game.

In the 1999-2000 NBA season, Bowen signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, traded to the Chicago Bulls and immediately waived, being picked off waivers by the Miami Heat. In that season, he wore jersey #12 instead of #30 and appeared in 69 games, averaging 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game, and scored in double-figures six times. In the following year, Bowen was retained by the Heat. In that year, he had his breakout season. For the first time in his career, he played in all 82 regular season games, averaged 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.01 steals in 32.7 minutes per game and set new single season career-highs in games, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, minutes, field goals made and attempted, three-point goals made and attempted and free throws made and attempted. Bowen logged more minutes (2,685 vs. 2,678), scored more points (623 vs. 606) and hit more threes (103 vs. 54) then he had in his first four seasons combined. Especially, Bowen earned himself a reputation as a defensive stopper. For his strong perimeter defense, he was voted into the All-Defensive Second Team.

an Antonio Spurs (2001-present)

In the 2001-02 NBA season, Bowen was signed by the San Antonio Spurs. He joined a championship-caliber team, led by veteran Hall-of-Fame center David Robinson, young superstar power forward Tim Duncan, and complemented by talented role players like Steve Smith, Malik Rose, Antonio Daniels and point guards Terry Porter and Tony Parker. Bowen established himself as a starter, beginning in 59 of his 59 regular-season games and in all 10 Spurs playoffs games, where they eventually succumbed to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 NBA Playoffs. For his feats, Bowen earned himself his second All-Defensive Second Team nomination.

In the next season, Bowen started in all 82 regular season games for the second time in his career and averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. Again, he was voted into the All-Defensive Second Team and was member of the Spurs team which won the 2003 NBA Finals. At age 31, the one-time journeyman Bowen had won his first championship ring as a starter. In the following three seasons, Bowen established a reputation as the best perimeter defender in the NBA, earning three straight All-Defensive First Team elections and ending as runner-up in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award votings twice, losing to post defender Ben Wallace.cite web|publisher=basketball-reference.com|url=http://basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_2005.html#NBA_DPOY|title=Awards Voting for 2004-05|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09] cite web|publisher=basketball-reference.com|url=http://basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_2006.html#NBA_DPOY|title=Awards Voting for 2005-06|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Bowen was a member of the Spurs squad which was defeated 4–2 by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2004 NBA Playoffs, but Bowen and the Spurs bounced back and won the NBA title in 2005. The Spurs could not win back-to-back titles however, and bowed out 4–3 in a grueling seven-game series against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Playoffs. As of 2007, Bowen remains a valuable role player on the Spurs, having started in every Spurs regular season and playoff game since he became a starter in 2001. In that season, he finished as the runner-up behind Marcus Camby for the league's defensive player of the year award.cite web|publisher=sports.espn.go.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2851168|title=Camby second Nugget to win top defensive award|date=2007-04-27|accessdate=2008-03-09] His defensive contributions also ensured that the Spurs won its fourth championship in the 2007 NBA Finals.cite web|publiser=nba.com|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2007/series/index.html|title=Parker, Spurs Close Out Cavs for Fourth Title|date=2007-06-15|accessdate=2008-03-09]

International career

In 2006, Bowen had the offer to join the United States men's national basketball team, which participated in the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan. At age 35, Bowen was the oldest player who was invited by U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski, stating the need for defensive role players like Bowen. However, Bowen received only little playing time, despite the injuries of fellow swingmen and guards Antawn Jamison, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. Although he participated in several training sessions and training camps, Bowen was eventually cut from the team. He expressed his disappointment, and said he hoped to make the 2008 Olympics squad,cite web|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA082006.1C.bowen.33c9ee9.html| title=Bowen disappointed at missing U.S. cut|publisher=mysanantonio.com|last=Ludden|first=Johnny|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09] but he was not named to the team in the end.

Player profile

The 6'7", convert|200|lb|abbr=on Bowen plays the small forward position. He has gained a reputation for being one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, earning himself eight consecutive nominations for the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams from 2001 to 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/news/defensive_team_080512.html|publisher=nba.com|title= Kobe, Garnett Headline All-Defensive Team|date=2008-05-12|accessdate=2008-07-15] From 2005 to 2007, he was second in voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, beaten only by centers Ben Wallace (2005 and 2006) and Marcus Camby (2007)cite web|url=http://basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_2007.html#NBA_DPOY |publisher=basketball-reference.comtitle= Awards Voting for 2006-07|date=2007-05-09|accessdate=2008-03-09] who are both post defenders.

Bowen is not known for his offensive production. He is seldom sought on offense, having never attempted more than 251 field goals in an entire 82-game regular season, and his career averages of 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, and .566 foul shooting are considered mediocre, never earning him nominations for NBA All-Star or All-NBA First or Second Teams. His foul shooting, in fact, is poor enough that he has at times been made the target of the so-called "Bruise-a-Bruce" defense. However, opposing teams cannot leave Bowen wide open on offense, because he is also a remarkably accurate three-point shooter (.388 career average on 1,700+ attempts). In addition, despite his age Bowen played 500 consecutive games between February 28, 2002 and March 12, 2008, leading Sports Illustrated to name him in 2007 the "Iron Man" of the NBA.cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0612/gallery.nba.mostunderpaid/content.5.html | publisher=sportsillustrated.cnn.com|title= NBA's Most Underpaid Players|date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Responding to fan e-mail in 2005, Bowen stated that his secret for success is a mixture of hard work and perseverance, saying defense is "a little bit of talent and a lot of work; being able to take on the challenge of going up against the top guys, even when you didn't win that battle. Being able to come back the next day and try again — I think that's the most important thing." He also stressed that the key to being a good basketball player is to "work hard and make sure you have fun with the game more than anything else. I think in anything you want to do, you can succeed at it. At least you can say you gave it your best effort if you don't." Bowen mentioned that he considers Denver Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony and former Seattle SuperSonics shooting guard Ray Allen (now with the Boston Celtics) to be among the most difficult players to guard.cite web | title = Spurs Mailbox: Bruce Bowen |publisher=nba.com | url = http://www.nba.com/webAction?actionId=surveyInitialize&target=/playoffs2005/mailbox_bowen.jsp&surveyId=1211|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Allegations of "dirty play"

Over the years however, Bowen has gained a reputation for not only being tough and effective, but also citations by some of his peers and sports analysts as a "dirty" defender.cite web| last=Burns | first=Marty | title= Is Bruce Bowen a Dirty Player? | publiser=sportsillustrated.cnn.com|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/11/15/bowen.reputation/index.html |date=2007-04-11|accessdate=2008-03-09] ESPN columnist Bill Simmons has characterized Bowen as "a cheap player who's going to seriously hurt someone some day", but concedes that he "ultimately makes his team better."cite web| last=Simmons | first=Bill| title= Thinking about the NBA playoffs while web surfing | publisher = espn.com|url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/index?name=simmons&entryDate=20070518 |date=2007-05-21|accessdate=2008-03-09] Inside Hoops columnist M.J. Darnell however says " [t] hey're whining because Bruce Bowen has frustrated, upset, hurt or angered them in some way... he just plays tough, physical defense, does not play with any intent to injure, but isn't afraid to get in someone's grill".cite web| title=Throwin' 'Bows |first=M.J. | last=Darnell | publisher=insidehoops.com|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/throwing-031304.shtml|date=2004-04-13|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Bowen has been disciplined by the league including a $10,000 fine doled out by the NBA for an incident in which he kicked Ray Allen in the back after both had fallen down in a game.cite web | title= Stoudemire calls Bowen, Ginobili ‘dirty’ players | publisher=msnbc.msn.com|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18601043 | date=2007-05-10|accessdate=2008-03-09] He has also been accused by Vince Carter and Steve Francis of encroaching into their landing space during their jumpshot, and in the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash hit the floor from a knee to the groin from Bowen. Also in that series, forward-center Amare Stoudemire accused Bowen of kicking him during a game, but after a review by the NBA, this claim was dismissed. [cite web| last= | first=| title= Stoudemire says Bowen tried to injure him in Game 2 | publisher=sports.espn.go.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2866789 |date=2007-05-11|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Other documented fouls

*Following a flagrant foul, a kick to the face, committed against Wally Szczerbiak in a March 1, 2002 game, Bowen was fined $7,500. [cite web| last= | first= | title= Bowen's foul reclassified as flagrant by league|publisher=espn.go.com|url=http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0303/1344744.html|date=2002-03-03|accessdate=2008-03-09]
*Following a flagrant foul, kicking a player on the floor, committed against Chris Paul in a March 12, 2008 game, Bowen was fined $37,000 and suspended for one game. [cite web| last= | first= | title= Bruce Bowen suspended for kicking Chris Paul, consecutive games streak ends at 500|publisher=espn.go.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=3293748|date=2008-03-14|accessdate=2008-05-16]

Personal life

Bowen is the son of Bruce Bowen Sr. and Dietra Campbell. He remembers having a problematic childhood, plagued by his mother's drug addiction and his father's alcohol problems. Today, Bowen has cut many relationships to his parents and several relatives, instead looking up to his childhood friend Quinn Crozier and a Los Angeles couple whom he regards as his adoptive parents.cite web|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20030608/ai_n10879297|title=For Bowen, this is the easy part|last=Weise|first=Mike|date=2007-04-11] Bowen is married to Yardley Barbon, and the couple has two sons, Ojani (born September 7, 2005) and Ozmel (born June 9, 2007). When not standing on the hardwood, he often speaks out against child obesity, and runs his own "GET FIT with Bruce and Buddy" program for healthy nutrition and daily sports acitivies for children. He is also a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, whom his nephew, Stephen Bowen plays for, and the University of Texas Longhorns football team. He runs the Bruce Bowen Foundation, an organization set-up to provide scholarships, tuitions and to help those less fortunate. In addition, he is working on his college degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton (by taking classes at nearby University of Texas at San Antonio), and wants to become a teacher after his NBA career.

NBA career statistics

:"Correct as of 14 June 2008" [cite web| publisher=nba.com| title= Bruce Bowen Career Stats Page | url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bruce_bowen/career_stats.html|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Regular season

-
align="left" | 1996–97
align="left" | Miami
1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0
-
align="left" | 1997–98
align="left" | Boston
61 || 9 || 21.4 || .409 || .339 || .623 || 2.9 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .5 || 5.6
-
align="left" | 1998–99
align="left" | Boston
30 || 1 || 16.5 || .280 || .269 || .458 || 1.7 || .9 || .7 || .3 || 2.3
-
align="left" | 1999–00
align="left" | Philadelphia
42 || 0 || 7.4 || .356 || .500 || .500 || .9 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 1.4
-
align="left" | 1999–00
align="left" | Miami
27 || 2 || 21.0 || .380 || .464 || .613 || 2.2 || .7 || .5 || .4 || 5.1
-
align="left" | 2000–01
align="left" | Miami
82 || 72 || 32.7 || .363 || .336 || .609 || 3.0 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .6 || 7.6
-
align="left" | 2001–02
align="left" | San Antonio
59 || 59 || 28.8 || .389 || .378 || .479 || 2.7 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .4 || 7.0
-
align="left" | 2002–03
align="left" | San Antonio
82 || 82 || 31.3 || .466 || .441 || .404 || 2.9 || 1.4 || .8 || .5 || 7.1
-
align="left" | 2003–04
align="left" | San Antonio
82 || 82 || 32.0 || .420 || .363 || .579 || 3.1 || 1.4 || 1.0 || .4 || 6.9
-
align="left" | 2004–05
align="left" | San Antonio
82 || 82 || 32.0 || .420 || .403 || .634 || 3.5 || 1.5 || .7 || .5 || 8.2
-
align="left" | 2005–06
align="left" | San Antonio
82 || 82 || 33.6 || .433 || .424 || .607 || 3.9 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .4 || 7.5
-
align="left" | 2006–07
align="left" | San Antonio
82 || 82 || 30.0 || .405 || .384 || .589 || 2.7 || 1.4 || .8 || .3 || 6.2
-
align="left" | 2007–08
align="left" | San Antonio
81 || 81 || 30.2 || .407 || .419 || .652 || 2.9 || 1.1 || .7 || .3 || 6.0
-
align="left" | Career
align="left" |
793 || 634 || 28.4 || .408 || .391 || .575 || 2.9 || 1.3 || .9 || .4 || 6.4
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Playoffs

-
align="left" | 1999–00
align="left" | Miami
10 || 0 || 15.7 || .370 || .227 || .625 || 1.0 || .8 || .7 || .4 || 3.5
-
align="left" | 2000–01
align="left" | Miami
3 || 3 || 19.3 || .313 || .250 || .000 || .7 || .7 || .7 || .7 || 4.0
-
align="left" | 2001–02
align="left" | San Antonio
10 || 10 || 34.5 || .410 || .440 || .500 || 3.3 || 1.4 || 1.1 || .7 || 6.8
-
align="left" | 2002–03
align="left" | San Antonio
24 || 24 || 31.3 || .372 || .438 || .548 || 2.9 || 1.6 || .8 || .7 || 6.9
-
align="left" | 2003–04
align="left" | San Antonio
10 || 10 || 29.8 || .365 || .379 || .231 || 2.9 || 1.0 || .4 || .3 || 6.0
-
align="left" | 2004–05
align="left" | San Antonio
23 || 23 || 35.4 || .359 || .433 || .647 || 2.9 || 1.6 || .5 || .6 || 5.7
-
align="left" | 2005–06
align="left" | San Antonio
13 || 13 || 34.0 || .525 || .500 || .500 || 2.2 || 1.2 || .9 || .6 || 6.2
-
align="left" | 2006–07
align="left" | San Antonio
20 || 20 || 34.5 || .395 || .446 || .500 || 4.1 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .2 || 6.5
-
align="left" | 2007–08
align="left" | San Antonio
17 || 17 || 29.9 || .398 || .407 || .727 || 1.9 || 1.4 || .6 || .3 || 6.1
-
align="left" | Career
align="left" |
130 || 120 || 31.2 || .391 || .419 || .545 || 2.7 || 1.3 || .8 || .5 || 6.1
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/bruce_bowen/index.html?nav=page NBA.com player profile]
* [http://www.brucebowen.com/ BruceBowen.com] - Official website
* [http://basketball-reference.com/players/b/bowenbr01.html Bruce Bowen stats] at Basketball-Reference.com
* [http://www.ultimatenba.com/playerfile/nba/BruceBowen-276.html Bruce Bowen playerfile, stats, career, videos]
*" [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/columnists/krodriguez/stories/MYSA061707.01B.Rodriguez.3555dcf.html Bowen is a father whom his kids and San Antonio can be proud of] " - Article from the San Antonio Express-News highlighting some of Bowen's contributions outside of his NBA career