They Should Retire Bruce's Number When He's Done!

[Bob Lanier]

Retired jerseys are for the franchise type players, hall of famers and Bowen is not one of those.

I disagree - the Hall of Fame is for superstar players. A franchise should retire the jerseys of Hall-of-Famers, yes, but also those of players who have made a significant impact on its successes over a prolonged period of time.

Those players are what give franchises an iden y, and by loyally honoring them the franchise maintains its iden y.

[rascal]

I disagree - the Hall of Fame is for superstar players. A franchise should retire the jerseys of Hall-of-Famers, yes, but also those of players who have made a significant impact on its successes over a prolonged period of time.

Those players are what give franchises an iden y, and by loyally honoring them the franchise maintains its iden y.

I disagree. its not the way I agree with because Avery's jersey is retired but it shouldn't be. The more marginal players you retire the less significance a retired jersey has.


I think winning les has clouded judgement on this. Had Bowen played before Duncan he would not get a retired jersey. A player worthy of getting a retired jersey should get it on his own merits not on team success.

[samikeyp]

I disagree - the Hall of Fame is for superstar players. A franchise should retire the jerseys of Hall-of-Famers, yes, but also those of players who have made a significant impact on its successes over a prolonged period of time.

Those players are what give franchises an iden y, and by loyally honoring them the franchise maintains its iden y.

I agree with this.

In actuality, There are no rules for retiring numbers. A team can retire any number at anytime. So there is no right or wrong.

I do like the ring of honor idea though.

[rascal]

I agree with this.

In actuality, There are no rules for retiring numbers. A team can retire any number at anytime. So there is no right or wrong.

I do like the ring of honor idea though.

Of course there are no rules. The more marginal talented players you retire the less significance the retired jerseys have. AJ should not have a retired jersey, he just was not good enough.

[samikeyp]

Of course there are no rules. The more marginal talented players you retire the less significance the retired jerseys have. AJ should not have a retired jersey, he just was not good enough.

Just not good enough according to who? Obviously the Spurs thought he was worthy.

[rascal]

Just not good enough according to who? Obviously the Spurs thought he was worthy.

No doubt the spurs who were running the show at the time thought AJ was worthy. I don't.

[samikeyp]

No doubt the spurs who were running the show at the time thought AJ was worthy. I don't.

So because you don't mean the Spurs shouldn't?

[YODA]

to be honest, bruce is my fave player on the team and my fave player since Robinson, but no he should not have his number retired.

44, 50, and 21 should be the only retired jerseys......maybe 9 when it is all said and done.

The rest of the players should be in a ring of honor......Silas, Moore, AJ, Elliott, Manu, Bowen, Gilmore, Robertson, Kenon, etc.....but their numbers should still be able to be worn by future Spurs.

I agree with this post in alot of ways. IT because of the championships that Sean and AJ got their jerseys retired. Do you think they would have been retired had they played in the 90's and not won a le? I have to go with no.
For the record, I think they should be retired for being the 1st ones to get us a le.
Only Mario ellie form the 99 team will not get his jersey retired. Manu TP Tim are locks even if they one day leave. they got us les and that goes along way.

There have been a ton of great players who probably have better numbers abd more deserving, but dont get it for being on losing teams.
Artis Gilmore, Alvin Robinson, and Terry mings come to mind.

my vote is yes, the man deserves it.

[Spurminator]

Jersey retirements are for people who hold a special and irreplaceable place in a franchise's history. Bowen has played eight years for this team, won three Championships and gotten some of the highest accolades for his defensive work. He has accepted less than he was worth and worked his ass off every year he's been here. He has personified Spurs Basketball this decade.

[baseline bum]

Greatest Bruce moment. 07 playoffs vs. Phoenix. I don't think I have to remind anyone how intense that series was. Near the end of one of the later games Bruce puts up a three by Phoenix's bench with them peskering him, he swishes it, and then stares Stoudewhiner down as he jogs back.

I liked this one better though:

[Drachen]

Since Avery had his jersey retired, I fully expect Jacque Vaughn's to be retired also.

I understand you are exaggerating, I would say that a more accurate description would be that Bonner is going to have his number retired since Avery had his. What a stupid decision.

Yes Bowen is going to be there and yes he should.

[SA210]

Jersey retirements are for people who hold a special and irreplaceable place in a franchise's history. Bowen has played eight years for this team, won three Championships and gotten some of the highest accolades for his defensive work. He has accepted less than he was worth and worked his ass off every year he's been here. He has personified Spurs Basketball this decade.

[FromWayDowntown]

Jersey retirements are for people who hold a special and irreplaceable place in a franchise's history. Bowen has played eight years for this team, won three Championships and gotten some of the highest accolades for his defensive work. He has accepted less than he was worth and worked his ass off every year he's been here. He has personified Spurs Basketball this decade.

His value to the Spurs has exceeded his output on the floor.

Retiring 12 is a no-brainer at this point.

[Obstructed_View]

Agree
Players who did not even make 1 all star appearance should not get retired jerseys. Retired jerseys are for the franchise type players, hall of famers and Bowen is not one of those.

Regardless, the Spurs have already set the bar much lower than that, and Bowen more than qualifies to have his number in the rafters. If AJ's there, Bowen should be, period.

[DAF86]

if aj got in bruce is a lock

Mas Juan.

[Man of Steel]

yes! The big FOUR!!

[BillMc]

I liked this one better though:

Great! As we're playing the Mavs you might like this one:

[spursfan1000]

Yeah I hope they retire his jersey, he has done alot for this orginasation and has deserved it.

[z0sa]

Agree
Players who did not even make 1 all star appearance should not get retired jerseys. Retired jerseys are for the franchise type players, hall of famers and Bowen is not one of those.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115037

Bruce may not have made it, but he was damn close!

[Obstructed_View]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115037

Bruce may not have made it, but he was damn close!

That's a whole lot closer than AJ got, unless you count coaching.

[BillMc]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115037

Bruce may not have made it, but he was damn close!

Yeah, that would have been cool. It was a bit of a fluke, given he wasn't starting any more. But, if you need proof that he can still play at 37 here's 1 from this year:



It is very possible that Pop was just giving Bruce a ton of rest during the regular season to save his old legs and see what the newer/younger players can do. Now that its the playoffs, time to take the 'old man' out of mothballs and get serious!

[Marcus Bryant]

This is a team honor, not the ing HoF.

[Obstructed_View]

This is a team honor, not the ing HoF.

The NBA doesn't understand or appreciate Bowen anyway. If you go to their photo site, there are two dozen pictures of Bowen and none of them show him playing defense.

[BillMc]

i hope bruce will be a defensive assiastant when its said for the spurs and done kinda reminds me of mario elie but for sho retire his jersey

I would like to see Bruce as an assistant someday too, teaching defense to some of the younger guys...

[SouthTexasRancher]

Bruce played a lot of minutes tonight and defended most of the Mav's key players. It really made me think that whenever Bruce hangs it up, the Spurs organization really should retire his jersey.

Is he a Hall Of Famer? No, but this Spurs team has always prided itself on role players and professionalism and Bruce has been both his whole time here.

How did Bowen contribute?

He went 500 consecutive games as a starter. During that time we won 3 Championships. You could argue that he was more important to the 2003 Championship than Parker. (Remember Bruce's harrassment of Kobe in the Playoffs? And his surprise offense that finished off the Lakers?)

Bruce is an 8 Time All-Defensive Team. Enough said. He completely got in Nash's head during the 2007 playoffs. He was masterful in 2005 against the Pistons. In short, he's the best perimeter defensive specialist in the league since Michael Cooper. He was first runner-up Defensive Player of the year 3 times.

Really, years from now when you think of the "00's" Spurs, you'll think of Bruce almost as much as Tim, Manu, Dave R and Tony. With Tony being young and still learning in the early years, David retiring after 2003 and Manu's injuries the last two playoffs, you can make the argument that Bruce has been as valuable as anyone not named Duncan over the decade

So, I have 3 questions to other Spurs fans:

1. Do you think they should retire Bruce's number when he's done?

2. And will they retire it?

3. What's your favorite Bowen moment/play?

Love to hear your thoughts!

Best, Bill

Pop will make sure Bowen's jersey is retired. Bruce is a very classy guy who puts teammates and the city first. You'll never hear him complain about anything. San Antonio has been very fortunate to have so many of these classy guys throughout the years.