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

[Spurlady]

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.

Totally agree.

Moreover, this is a team sport so while there are players that get a jersey retired based solely on their own contributions as an all star, I think Bowen's contributions to the team make him worthy of a jersey retirement. It is very possible that without his defensive contributions in 03, 05 and 07 that the Spurs would not have won championships.

[Obstructed_View]

Totally agree.

Moreover, this is a team sport so while there are players that get a jersey retired based solely on their own contributions as an all star, I think Bowen's contributions to the team make him worthy of a jersey retirement. It is very possible that without his defensive contributions in 03, 05 and 07 that the Spurs would not have won championships.

It is more than very possible, it's absolutely the truth.

[Creation88]

Bruce has to get his # retired. he's been the "hidden" MVP for this team for a loooooooooong time.

[CubanSucks]

Would somebody PLEASE make a poll thread already asking if you think Bowen's jersey should be retired? I think it's time considering this thread has gone 4 pages. I would but I don't know how. PLEASE!!!

[SA210]

Bruce has to get his # retired. he's been the "hidden" MVP for this team for a loooooooooong time.

[CubanSucks]

DAMN, I don't think I've ever felt so happy as a Spurs fan as I did after that play...besides the championships of coarse. It's like Bowen did what all of us wanted so badly to do at the perfect time.

[Taco]

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

[Dex]

Number 12 deserves to be in the rafters someday, and as a Spurs fan and somebody who appreciates everything that Bruce has done for this franchise, I'll be personally offended if it isn't.

[CubanSucks]

Would somebody PLEASE make a poll thread already asking if you think Bowen's jersey should be retired? I think it's time considering this thread has gone 4 pages. I would but I don't know how. PLEASE!!!

[Spurminator]

A poll is pointless. 90% of Spurs fans would agree. At this point it's almost as useful as arguing about whether or not Duncan should have his jersey retired.

[CubanSucks]

A poll is pointless. 90% of Spurs fans would agree. At this point it's almost as useful as arguing about whether or not Duncan should have his jersey retired.

You obviously haven't read all 4 pages. And anyway, I would love to quiet the opinions of those who disagree. But since it apparently would require so much ing effort...

[FaithInOne]

LOL , they retired #6

Bruce has this on lockdown.

[BillMc]

Totally agree.

Moreover, this is a team sport so while there are players that get a jersey retired based solely on their own contributions as an all star, I think Bowen's contributions to the team make him worthy of a jersey retirement. It is very possible that without his defensive contributions in 03, 05 and 07 that the Spurs would not have won championships.

Without Bruce's great D and surprise offense we might not beat the Lakers in '03. And in the '05 Finals he was a wrecking ball, made Billups life in particular very difficult.

Those are just the examples that come to mind. There's certainly countless more.

[timtonymanu]

yes his jersey should be retired. He is a true Spur. Tim, Manu, Tony, and Bruce all deserve it.

My favorite plays from him were his block on Billups in 05. his six 3's against LA in 03. his amazing defense.

[Yuixafun]

Yes. Yes.


NBA Playoffs 2007 / Western Conference Semifinals / Game 5 / Spurs@Suns

Bruce Bowen, labeled a dirty player by the Suns' Amare Stoudemire and the subject of taunts all night from the Phoenix crowd, sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play. That gave the Spurs their first lead since the game's opening six minutes, and they pulled out an 88-85 victory on Wednesday night.

"It felt great," Bowen said. "After all the things I was hearing from the sidelines it was great. The people were calling me choice names I had never heard before."

San Antonio took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series --> this play description from youtube.

[spurscenter]

I think they should also retire the following

[tonight...you]

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

Good call bud. Who saw what ended up happening with his jersey actually happening? By the way: Watching Space Mutiny right now. MST3K S8 Ep20. Still hilarious. "She's a sexy senior citizen," lol.

[BillMc]

Good call bud. Who saw what ended up happening with his jersey actually happening? By the way: Watching Space Mutiny right now. MST3K S8 Ep20. Still hilarious. "She's a sexy senior citizen," lol.

Thanks. Man that's an old post. I used to write so much more succinctly in my youth!

Space Mutiny is great. I watched that in July. Be sure to check out the chick that gets killed and is then in some later scenes because of crappy editing. Or the climatic car chase. Man, I may have to watch that again...

[tonight...you]

Thanks. Man that's an old post. I used to write so much more succinctly in my youth!

Space Mutiny is great. I watched that in July. Be sure to check out the chick that gets killed and is then in some later scenes because of crappy editing. Or the climatic car chase. Man, I may have to watch that again...

"I'm so glad you gave that dead girl another chance!" Lol.

[BillMc]

"I'm so glad you gave that dead girl another chance!" Lol.

[Spurtacular]

Retiring numbers is way overdone, tbh.