Bruce Bowen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bruce Bowen

Bowen in 2014
Personal information
Born	(1971-06-14) June 14, 1971 (age 54) Merced, California, U.S.
High school	Edison (Fresno, California)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	Cal State Fullerton (1989–1993)
NBA Draft	1993 / Undrafted
Pro career	1993–2009
Career history
1993–1994	Le Havre
1994–1995	Évreux
1995	Fort Wayne Fury
1995–1996	Rockford Lightning
1996–1997	Besançon
1997	Rockford Lightning
1997	Miami Heat
1997–1999	Boston Celtics
1999–2000	Philadelphia 76ers
2000–2001	Miami Heat
2001–2009	San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
3× NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007) 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2004–2008) 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001–2003) No. 12 retired by San Antonio Spurs 2× LNB Pro B Best Scorer (1994, 1995) First team All-Big West (1993) Second team All-Big West (1992)
Career NBA statistics
Points	5,290 (6.1 ppg)
Rebounds	2,428 (2.8 rpg)
Assists	1,089 (1.2 apg)

Bruce Eric Bowen Jr. (born June 14, 1971) is a former American professional basketball player. He played as a small forward. Bruce Bowen is well-known for his strong defense in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for teams like the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and especially the San Antonio Spurs.

Bowen was chosen for the NBA All-Defensive Team eight times. He helped the Spurs win three NBA championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007. While he was a great defender, his physical playstyle sometimes caused discussions among players and fans. Off the court, Bruce Bowen became an important supporter for child obesity awareness.

Early Life and College Basketball

Bruce Bowen Jr. was born in Merced, California. He grew up playing basketball and became a star player at West Fresno Edison High School. After high school, he played four seasons for Cal State Fullerton. He played in 101 games during his college career.

As a senior in 1992–93, he averaged 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He was named to the All-Big West Conference First Team. Bruce Bowen is 12th in career points (1,155) and seventh in rebounds (559) for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting in France and the CBA

After college, Bruce Bowen was not chosen in the 1993 NBA draft. He started his professional career playing basketball in France. He played for Le Havre in 1993–94 and then for Évreux in 1994–95.

In 1995–96, Bowen played in the CBA for the Rockford Lightning. He then went back to France to play for Besançon in 1996–97. He returned to the Rockford Lightning in February 1997.

Making it to the NBA

Bruce Bowen made his NBA debut in March 1997 with the Miami Heat. He played only one minute in one game.

Later in 1997, he joined the Boston Celtics. With the Celtics, Bowen slowly became a more regular NBA player. In his first full NBA season (1997–98), he played in 61 games. He averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. The next year, he played in 30 games for the Celtics.

In the 1999–2000 NBA season, Bowen signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was later traded and then picked up by the Miami Heat again. In the 2000–01 season, he had a great year. He played in all 82 regular-season games and averaged 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.01 steals per game. He became known as a strong defensive player. For his excellent defense, he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.

San Antonio Spurs: A Championship Era

First NBA Championship (2001–2003)

In the 2001–02 NBA season, Bruce Bowen joined the San Antonio Spurs. This team was strong, with stars like David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Bowen quickly became a starter, playing in all 59 of his regular-season games. He earned his second All-Defensive Second Team award. Some people thought his defensive style was very aggressive.

Bruce Bowen playing in 2009

The 2002–03 NBA season was even better. Bowen started in all 82 regular-season games. He was again named to the All-Defensive Second Team. That year, the Spurs won the 2003 NBA Finals, giving Bowen his first NBA championship ring. For the next three seasons, Bowen was considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He was chosen for the All-Defensive First Team three times in a row. He also finished second in the voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice.

Chasing Another Title (2003–2004)

Bruce Bowen's tough defensive style was often talked about. Some rival players, like Vince Carter and Steve Francis, felt his defense was too close. However, many believed he simply played very physical defense without trying to hurt anyone. Despite Bowen's strong defense, the Spurs did not win the championship in the 2004 NBA playoffs. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Winning More Championships (2005–2007)

Bowen and the Spurs came back strong and won the 2005 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons. They could not win back-to-back titles in 2006, losing to the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2007 NBA playoffs, Bowen's defense was again a topic of discussion in a series against the Phoenix Suns. The Spurs went on to beat the Suns, and Bowen's defense was key to the Spurs winning their fourth championship in the 2007 NBA Finals.

Final Years with the Spurs (2007–2009)

In the 2007–08 NBA season, Bruce Bowen, at 36 years old, played in 81 of 82 regular-season games and started them all. He earned his fifth straight NBA All-Defensive First Team nomination. He finished second for the Defensive Player of the Year award. In the 2008 NBA playoffs, the Spurs lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bowen had started every Spurs regular season and playoff game from 2001 to 2008.

The 2008–09 NBA season was Bowen's last with the Spurs. He played in 80 games, but he was no longer a starter. His playing time was also less. The Spurs lost in the first round of the 2009 NBA playoffs.

On June 23, 2009, Bowen was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He was released on July 31, 2009, and retired from basketball on September 3, 2009.

On March 21, 2012, the San Antonio Spurs honored Bruce Bowen by retiring his #12 jersey. This means no other Spurs player will wear that number. However, with Bowen's permission, the Spurs reissued the number 12 for LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015.

Playing for the National Team

In 2006, Bruce Bowen was invited to join the United States men's national basketball team. The team played in the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan. At 35, he was the oldest player on the team. The coach, Mike Krzyzewski, said the team needed a defensive player like Bowen. However, Bowen did not play much. He hoped to make the 2008 Olympics team but was not chosen.

Bruce Bowen's Playing Style

Bowen playing defense against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007

Bruce Bowen, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, played as a small forward and sometimes a shooting guard. He was known as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He received eight straight nominations for the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams from 2001 to 2008. From 2005 to 2007, he was second in voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Bowen was not mainly known for scoring points. His career averages were 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. However, he was a very accurate three-point shooter, especially from the corner. He also played in 500 consecutive games between 2002 and 2008, showing his toughness and durability.

Life After Basketball

Bruce Bowen cares about helping kids stay healthy. In 2004, he started the "GET FIT with Bruce and Buddy" program. This program teaches children about healthy eating and daily sports activities. He also runs the Bruce Bowen Foundation, which gives scholarships to students. In 2006, he earned a college degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. He has said he wants to become a teacher. In 2011, he was honored by being inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.

After retiring from playing, Bowen worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN. He also worked as a TV commentator for the Los Angeles Clippers' games. In April 2019, Bowen became the boys' basketball coach at Cornerstone Christian School in San Antonio.

Personal Life

Bruce Bowen considers Robert and Sandra Thrash, a couple he met at church during college, as his adoptive parents.

In 2004, Bowen married Yardley Barbon, and they had two sons. They divorced in 2012.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

• List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders