Kori Ellis
08-03-2006, 03:49 AM
Bowen serving as role model
By Peter May, Globe Staff | August 3, 2006
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2006/08/03/bowen_serving_as_role_model/
LAS VEGAS -- The fact that Bruce Bowen is playing basketball here -- and now -- speaks volumes about the state and priorities of USA Basketball.
In the past, a player like Bowen needn't have worried about being included on world championship or Olympic teams. Star power ruled the selection process until, well, we all know what happened in Indianapolis in 2002 and in Athens two years later. The world caught up and the Yanks deconstructed.
``It was time to give the so-called role players an opportunity to participate at this level," USA Basketball selection chief Jerry Colangelo said following the team's workout yesterday at the Thomas and Mack Center. ``There's been too much stress on All-Star teams playing in world competitions. It's already been proven that doesn't necessarily guarantee that you will win.
``You need role players. You need people to make contributions in other parts of the game besides just scoring. And Bruce Bowen epitomizes the role player. He is competitive. He's a great guy. It's a great story."
It's the unlikeliest of stories as well. At 35, Bowen is the oldest player on the team; he has Brad Miller and Antawn Jamison by five years. Bowen and Miller are the only players on the roster who were undrafted. He, Gilbert Arenas, and Dwight Howard are the only players without USA Basketball experience.
But Bowen is the only player here training for the upcoming world championships in Japan with a pair of NBA championships on his résumé. Those two rings give him more than just street cred among the USA invitees; Dwyane Wade is the only other camp attendee with a championship.
And Bowen got those rings doing exactly what coach Mike Krzyzewski expects him to do in Japan -- clamping down on his man and setting a defensive tone on the perimeter.
``I know there are guys here who have talents that are greater than mine," Bowen said. ``But at some point you have to feel like you belong here as well. I think the guys see that in me. I may not take the shots they take because of my role in San Antonio. But it doesn't mean I'm not capable of being on the same floor with them and helping the team win. I have two championships that speak for themselves. That has helped me out here more than anything else. They can say what they want, but I do have two rings."
Colangelo recalled his first meeting with Bowen when the selection process was as much a feeling-out process as anything else. Over All-Star weekend in Houston, Bowen flew in from Florida, where he was vacationing, and eagerly accepted Colangelo's invitation.
``He was so happy, I think he could have flown back to Florida without a plane," Colangelo said. ``It's refreshing to see that kind of enthusiasm. To extend an offer made us feel good. And we certainly knew how he felt."
What Bowen has seen and gone through has only validated what he thought and expected. Krzyzewski incessantly talks about defense, which, as Bowen said, ``isn't just preaching to the choir. To me, it's praise the Lord!" Bowen also has found the adjustment not nearly so difficult as he might have thought, in part because he spends the NBA season chasing most of these fellows up and down the court.
``I guard most of the guys here," Bowen said. ``They're not going to show me anything I don't already know. But defense has got to be a constant. There are nights when you may not shoot well, but if you can sustain a certain amount of defense, you'll be fine.
``I understand [Krzyzewski's] vision that much more because I played against Vegas [UNLV] in their heyday. [Bowen attended Cal State Fullerton.] Those guys were all over the place, creating turnovers, getting deflections, so they could use their athleticism in the open court. It's hard to use your athleticism in a half-court game because there's a zone."
Bowen also can make the occasional outside shot, which is critical in the international game. He gets a lot of open looks in San Antonio and, in the 2002-03 season, he led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (44.1). Last year, he was ninth in that category, connecting on 42.4 percent of his threes.
He is a fixture with the Spurs, but his pro career boasts numerous stops -- as well as countries and leagues. After not getting drafted, he ventured to France, where he played for Evreux in 1994-95 and for Besancon in 1996-97. In between was a stint with the Fort Wayne Fury and Rockford Lightning of the CBA.
The Celtics launched his NBA career in 1997, even though he had made a very brief appearance with Miami prior to his stop in Boston. He also played with Miami and Philadelphia before catching on with the Spurs.
Everywhere he's gone, he has been the consummate role player. Things are no different now for him in his first venture with USA Basketball. Asked to reflect on his long, circuitous route from Europe to USA stopper, he recalled his early days in France, when he was asked to participate in a drill.
``I always think about this one time, when a guy was teaching this drill and I looked at him and said, `We do things differently in the US.' His response was, `You're not in the US.' He said it with such arrogance.
``I was taken aback, but he was right. I wasn't in the US. Now, for me, it would be so great to represent my country, win a gold medal, and finally be able to say, `This is the way we do it in the US.' "
By Peter May, Globe Staff | August 3, 2006
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2006/08/03/bowen_serving_as_role_model/
LAS VEGAS -- The fact that Bruce Bowen is playing basketball here -- and now -- speaks volumes about the state and priorities of USA Basketball.
In the past, a player like Bowen needn't have worried about being included on world championship or Olympic teams. Star power ruled the selection process until, well, we all know what happened in Indianapolis in 2002 and in Athens two years later. The world caught up and the Yanks deconstructed.
``It was time to give the so-called role players an opportunity to participate at this level," USA Basketball selection chief Jerry Colangelo said following the team's workout yesterday at the Thomas and Mack Center. ``There's been too much stress on All-Star teams playing in world competitions. It's already been proven that doesn't necessarily guarantee that you will win.
``You need role players. You need people to make contributions in other parts of the game besides just scoring. And Bruce Bowen epitomizes the role player. He is competitive. He's a great guy. It's a great story."
It's the unlikeliest of stories as well. At 35, Bowen is the oldest player on the team; he has Brad Miller and Antawn Jamison by five years. Bowen and Miller are the only players on the roster who were undrafted. He, Gilbert Arenas, and Dwight Howard are the only players without USA Basketball experience.
But Bowen is the only player here training for the upcoming world championships in Japan with a pair of NBA championships on his résumé. Those two rings give him more than just street cred among the USA invitees; Dwyane Wade is the only other camp attendee with a championship.
And Bowen got those rings doing exactly what coach Mike Krzyzewski expects him to do in Japan -- clamping down on his man and setting a defensive tone on the perimeter.
``I know there are guys here who have talents that are greater than mine," Bowen said. ``But at some point you have to feel like you belong here as well. I think the guys see that in me. I may not take the shots they take because of my role in San Antonio. But it doesn't mean I'm not capable of being on the same floor with them and helping the team win. I have two championships that speak for themselves. That has helped me out here more than anything else. They can say what they want, but I do have two rings."
Colangelo recalled his first meeting with Bowen when the selection process was as much a feeling-out process as anything else. Over All-Star weekend in Houston, Bowen flew in from Florida, where he was vacationing, and eagerly accepted Colangelo's invitation.
``He was so happy, I think he could have flown back to Florida without a plane," Colangelo said. ``It's refreshing to see that kind of enthusiasm. To extend an offer made us feel good. And we certainly knew how he felt."
What Bowen has seen and gone through has only validated what he thought and expected. Krzyzewski incessantly talks about defense, which, as Bowen said, ``isn't just preaching to the choir. To me, it's praise the Lord!" Bowen also has found the adjustment not nearly so difficult as he might have thought, in part because he spends the NBA season chasing most of these fellows up and down the court.
``I guard most of the guys here," Bowen said. ``They're not going to show me anything I don't already know. But defense has got to be a constant. There are nights when you may not shoot well, but if you can sustain a certain amount of defense, you'll be fine.
``I understand [Krzyzewski's] vision that much more because I played against Vegas [UNLV] in their heyday. [Bowen attended Cal State Fullerton.] Those guys were all over the place, creating turnovers, getting deflections, so they could use their athleticism in the open court. It's hard to use your athleticism in a half-court game because there's a zone."
Bowen also can make the occasional outside shot, which is critical in the international game. He gets a lot of open looks in San Antonio and, in the 2002-03 season, he led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (44.1). Last year, he was ninth in that category, connecting on 42.4 percent of his threes.
He is a fixture with the Spurs, but his pro career boasts numerous stops -- as well as countries and leagues. After not getting drafted, he ventured to France, where he played for Evreux in 1994-95 and for Besancon in 1996-97. In between was a stint with the Fort Wayne Fury and Rockford Lightning of the CBA.
The Celtics launched his NBA career in 1997, even though he had made a very brief appearance with Miami prior to his stop in Boston. He also played with Miami and Philadelphia before catching on with the Spurs.
Everywhere he's gone, he has been the consummate role player. Things are no different now for him in his first venture with USA Basketball. Asked to reflect on his long, circuitous route from Europe to USA stopper, he recalled his early days in France, when he was asked to participate in a drill.
``I always think about this one time, when a guy was teaching this drill and I looked at him and said, `We do things differently in the US.' His response was, `You're not in the US.' He said it with such arrogance.
``I was taken aback, but he was right. I wasn't in the US. Now, for me, it would be so great to represent my country, win a gold medal, and finally be able to say, `This is the way we do it in the US.' "