Bruce Bowen

At 53 years old, Bruce Bowen has this physical status:

Bruce Eric Bowen Jr. (born June 14, 1971) is an American professional basketball player.

Bowen played small forward and graduated from Edison High School and Cal State Fullerton.

He continued to play for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and the Continental Basketball Association's Rockford Lightning, as well as France. Bowen has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams eight times, and he was one of the Spurs' most feared perimeter "lockdown" defenders in NBA history.

Bowen became an informal ambassador for child obesity education off the judicial level.

Early years

Bruce Bowen Jr. was born in Merced, California. He is the son of Bruce Bowen Sr. and Dietra Campbell. Bowen had a turbulent childhood growing up in Merced. According to Bowen, his revenues from selling newspapers were stolen from him by his father in order that his father could purchase alcohol. Bowen has also stated that he only saw his father "from time to time." He has denied that his mother was addicted to opioids and that she once sold the family television to fuel her crack cocaine use. Bowen has an uncle named Darryl who looked out for him as a boy; he thinks Darryl and his sons are brothers.

Bruce Jr. spent his days playing basketball and then became a popular West Fresno Edison High School star. He spent four seasons at Cal State Fullerton, scoring in 102 games and receiving 5.8 rebounds per game. In 36.6 minutes as a senior in 1992-93, he was named to the All-Big West Conference First Team, averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 36.6 minutes. Bowen ranks 12th on the Titans' all-time list in career points (1,155) and is seventh all-time in rebounds (559).

Personal life

As his adoptive parents, Bowen regards Robert and Sandra Thrash, a Los Angeles couple who met in church during his college years as his adoptive parents.

Bowen married Yardley Barbon, a Miami resident of Cuban descent, in 2004, and the pair had two sons. In 2012, the two couples got divorced.

He earned a bachelor degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton in 2006, and he had attended classes at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

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Professional career

Bowen was eligible for the 1993 NBA draft after completing his four-year college eligibility, but went undrafted. Bowen played for five clubs between 1993 and 1997, beginning with the French team Le Havre in 1993-1994.

Bowen played for Évreux from 1994 to 1995.

Bowen was a member of the Rockford Lightning in 1995-96.

Bowen spent the next season with Besançon in France.

Bowen returned to the Lightning in February 1997.

Bowen made his NBA debut in March 1997 when he was drafted by the Miami Heat to a ten-day deal. 1 game, 1 minute, and 1 block was his output.

Bowen returned to the NBA in the 1997-98 NBA season, after being signed by the Boston Celtics. Bowen gradually established himself in the NBA with the Celtics. In his first full year as an NBA player, he appeared in 61 games (nine of them as starter), shot 5.6 percent, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.43 steals in 21.4 minutes per game, shooting.409 from three-point land, and.623 from the free throw line. Bowen's first year was a disappointment for him, as he appeared in only 30 Celtics games, averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game.

Bowen ruled with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1999-2000 NBA seasons.

Bowen was later traded to the Chicago Bulls and promptly waived, before he picked up waivers from the Miami Heat. In that season, he wore jersey #22 rather than #3 and appeared in 69 games, averaging 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, and scored in double figures six times. Bowen was kept by the Heat in the following year. He had his breakout year in that year. For the first time in his career, he played in all 82 regular-season games, averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 assists, 1.01 steals, and 1.01 steals in 32.2 minutes per game, setting new single-season records in games, points, rebounds, blocks, minutes, field goals, and attempted, three-point goals made and attempted, as well as free throws made and attempted. Bowen lasted longer (2,685 vs. 2,678), scored more points (623 vs. 606) and got more threes (103 vs. 54) in his first four seasons combined. Bowen, in particular, has a reputation as a defensive stopper. He was selected into the All-Defensive Second Team due to his outstanding perimeter defense.

Bowen was signed by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2001–02 NBA season. He joined a championship-caliber team, led by veteran Hall-of-Fame center David Robinson and young power forward Tim Duncan, as well as talented role players like Steve Smith, Malik Rose, Antonio Daniels, and point guard Terry Porter and Tony Parker. Bowen began as a starter in each of his 59 regular-season games. Bowen was fined $7,500 for kicking Wally Szczerbiak in the face during a game on March 1, 2002. Bowen appeared in all 10 Spurs playoffs games, where the team eventually lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bowen earned his second All-Defensive Second Team nomination for his exploits, despite some peers and sports analysts' accusing him of being a "dirty" defender.

Bowen played in all 82 regular-season games for the second time in his career, scoring 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. He was selected into the All-Defensive Second Team once more and was a member of the Spurs team that defeated the 2003 NBA Finals. Bowen, a one-time journeyman, had won his first championship ring as a starter at the age of 31. Bowen established a reputation as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA over the past three seasons, winning three straight All-Defensive First Team elections and finishing runner-up in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award voting twice, losing to post defender Ben Wallace.

Bowen's versatile, yet hard-nosed style of play came under discussion as he established himself as the premier defensive backcourt player. During their jumpshot, rival guards Vince Carter and Steve Francis accused him of encroaching into their landing space. "They're whining because Bruce Bowen has been irritated, angry, hurt, or angered them in any way," M.J. Darnell, a Hoops columnist. He plays a tough, physical defense, and does not intend to hurt, but isn't afraid to get in someone's grill." Bowen's defensive style did not help this Spurs squad return to the NBA playoffs in 2004, when the team was eventually defeated 4–2 by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

Bowen and the Spurs won the NBA title in 2005 after defeating the Detroit Pistons. The Spurs could not win back-to-back titles, however, and they lost 4-3 in a seven-game series against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA playoffs. Bowen received a $10,000 NBA fine for kicking Ray Allen in the back during a March 2006 game, owing to his tumultuous style of play.

The Spurs fought against the Phoenix Suns in the 2007 NBA playoffs, and Bowen became the thorn in the controversies. Nash was knocked to the ground by his knee, triggering his ankle. Amar'e Stoudemire, a forward-center, was accused of kicking Bowen during a game, but the NBA denied the allegation. Bowen was "a cheap guy who's going to seriously hurt someone someday," according to ESPN columnist Bill Simmons, but Simmons later admitted that Bowen "actually makes his team better." The Spurs defeated the Suns in their fourth championship, while Bowen's defense helped the Spurs win their fourth championship in the 2007 NBA Finals.

Bowen, a 36-year-old NBA veteran, appeared in 81 of 82 of 82 regular season games, earning his fifth straight nomination in the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Bowen was fined $7,000 and suspended for one game for kicking Chris Paul after Paul had fallen to the ground during a March 12, 2008 game. Bowen finished second, behind Marcus Camby for the league's defensive player of the year award. Bowen was unable to stop Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who averaged 28.3 points and helped Los Angeles defeat the Spurs in five games in the 2008 NBA playoffs. Bowen appeared in every Spurs regular season and playoff game from 2001 to 2008.

Bowen's last with the Spurs was scheduled to be in 2008. Despite playing in 80 regular-season games, he was no longer a starter in the previous seven San Antonio campaigns. His minutes were also reduced (from 30+ to 18.9 per game), but his shooting numbers remained steady. With a 54-28 record and as the third seed, the Spurs advanced to the 2009 NBA playoffs. With powerful shooting guard Manu Ginóbili out of the game, the Spurs got off to a bad start to the season and lost 4–1 against the Dallas Mavericks, dropping out of the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

Bowen was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks alongside Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto on June 23, 2009. Richard Jefferson was traded with him on June 23, 2009. He was born on July 31, 2009 and retired on September 3, 2009.

Bowen's No. 2 jersey was retired by the Spurs on March 21, 2012. Bowen's jersey was the seventh to be released by the Spurs since being seventh. The Spurs reissued the number 12 for free agent LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015, with Bowen's permission.

National team career

Bowen was invited to join the US men's national basketball team, which competed in the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan, by U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski. At 35, he was the oldest player to play; Krzyzewski said the team needed a defensive player like Bowen. Despite the injuries of fellow swingmen and guards Antawn Jamison, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade, Bowen received little playing time. Bowen was eventually dropped from the squad despite participating in multiple training sessions and boot camps. He expressed sadness and said he wished to make the 2008 Olympic squad, but the squad was not drafted until the end.

Post-playing career

Bowen has often spoken out against childhood obesity. He launched the "GET FIT with Bruce and Buddy" program for children's improved diet and daily sports activities in 2004. He runs the Bruce Bowen Foundation, an organization that was established to provide scholarships and bursaries. He earned a Cal State Fullerton degree in communications in 2006; he had also taken classes at the University of Texas in San Antonio. He has stated his ambition to become a tutor. Bowen was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

After he resigned, Bowen worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN. Bowen spent the 2017-18 season as a color analyst for Fox Sports West television broadcasts of the Los Angeles Clippers' games. After making remarks dismissive of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers' free agent and trade target, he was fired from his position.

Bowen was hired as a boys' basketball coach at Cornerstone Christian School in San Antonio in April 2019.

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