Let's also not forget that the Spurs signed him as a free agent. Definitely a dirty player, but he did what he had to do to get the job done. He played elite defense on 1s, 2s, 3s, and select 4s. That type of defensive versatility is rare. Not sure how I feel about SA retiring his jersey, but he was an integral part of all the championship teams he played on.
You know your team has had a history of ****ty players when you retire the number of a role player who won't make the HOF.
Can anyone tell me the story behind this one? That had to be at least a flagrant, right? Was he ejected from the game or suspended? How the hell did Bowen even explain what he did?
Honestly, Wally's face was asking for it. They should have retired Bowen's sneaker with Wally's face still planted on it.
Might have been the dirtiest NBA player ever. For the sake of the game (Basketball Reasons) Stern should veto SA's request.
This is really disgusting. Opponents should have a Bruce Bowen jersey burning ceremony when the Spurs come to town.
I'll be having a "nice" conversation with my brother-in-law in SA about this. He's a season ticket holder. I want to hear how he's going to defend this. Perhaps he'll surprise me and say it's a mistake. I hope so.
I like it. Retiring a jersey's number has 0 to do with his career stats, and 100% to do with his impact on the team. Bowen wasn't the most talented guy on the court, but he epitomized the Spurs during their heyday: scrappy, team oriented and all about winning. Sure he was dirty as fu$k, but those type of guys are players you love when they're on your team, and hate when they're with the enemy. Without Bowen they wouldn't have anyone guarding the Kobe's on the way to 3 rings.
dont hold your breath there - they love bowen. i have alot of family in s.a. and they are totally unwilling to acknowledge what a dirty player bowen was. most spurs fans arent very smart though - these people threw a hissy fit when they traded malik rose - people were calling into sports radio crying and saying they were cancelling their season tickets - pop had to come on the radio the next day and do damage control. they are total homers down there and im sure believe bowen deserves this.
Well, I guess they need to put somebody in the rafters. Besides Gervin and Robertson all the other HOFish Spurs are still playing.
Replace Bowen with Battier, Tayshaun Prince, or Raja Bell and I'm sure they win just as many titles. Probably Doug Christie in 02-03 and 04-05. Throw James Posey in there too.
http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0303/1344744.html It was called on the floor as a foul. Reclassified by the NBA as a flagrant and he was fined $7,500. This was the first fine of his career.
Than the Pistons should retire Rick Mahorn's number. The Knicks should retire Charles Oakley's number. The Lakers should retire Byron Scott's number. And so on...
