With Bruce's retirement, this honestly is the end of an era in Spurs basketball. Bruce represented everything that these championship teams were all about with tremendous grit, determination and heart. The man never backed down from an assignment or challenge. How many players today would be willing to take on such a role, while also being humble enough to take on the absolute best players at the three perimeter positions??? How many guys can go from pestering Carmelo, wearing down Paul, frustrating Vince, and getting in the head of Ray Allen? We all know that these guys can easily embrass any defender, and at times they did so to Bruce, but he never wavered in sticking to his assignment. I'll miss Bruce for the great defender he was, but also for the great human being he is.
Thanks for the memories, Bruce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know if this has already been said but I would like to see the Spurs hire Bowen specifically to work one on one part time with George Hill. Obviously George should be working with a PG too to further develop him at the point but because of the body he possesses he is also a very capable defender and would benefit greatly from the one on one time with Bruce.
He's who comes to mind first when someone mentions "Spurs Basketball"..
Thanks for years of solid hard work. Bruce always provided what the Spurs needed from him. Whether it was a timely three pointer or to just make the best player on the other team life
thanks Bruce for everything. The big 4 is now down to a big 3. It's a shame we couldnt get you one more before you retired. It sucks I have to watch one more year of Bonner and Finley instead of you. Thanks for putting all those soft pussies in their place. GO BRUCE!!!!!!
Thank you, Bruce Bowen.
to a great bb player and a great human being !
Thank you Bruce!!
Mere words of appreciation to BB, just don't seem like enough.
I'll still rock your jersey to Spurs road games.
Always my DPOY!
to the Rash!
Thanks for being a consummate teammate and fine pro.
Their go your dream for winning a championship.now that bruce bowen is gone retirement.Bruce will make a comeback.
BRUCE, PLEASE COME BACK TO THE SPURS UNIFORMS.
We'll miss you Bruce.
On another note, I'm getting annoyed with all the - posters on RealGM slamming Bowen and calling him a ty human being. It's like all they can do to call him a dirty player is cite like 3 specific plays in his 8 years here.
I'm more of a lurker than a poster these days, but I felt that I needed to come in here and express my thoughts about Bruce. He certainly didn't carry the team like Tony, Manu, or Tim, but I can't think of anyone who represented what the Spurs were all about more than Bruce.
Anyone who watched the Spurs last year undoubtedly noticed that the defense was not the same. I believe Bruce had a lot to do with that. It wasn't even so much about his relentless pestering of the opponent's best player. It was more about the at ude that he brought to the court. He was a role player, but the others seemed to feed off him on the defensive end of the court. I think the Spurs really missed his energy and dedication to playing great defense. Matt Bonner playing major minutes didn't help, of course.
He's certainly one of my favorites and I hope his number is eventually retired. If you consider the other numbers they've retired recently, he certainly deserves it.
He was a methodical assassin on the defensive end. A pure joy to watch, and more of a difference maker than many will ever know. I'll miss you, Bruce.
Oliver updated.
Bruce Bowen retires from NBA
Richard Oliver - Express-News
A few moments after officially retiring from the NBA on Thursday afternoon, Bruce Bowen delivered a message to one of the players he’d harassed on the court for more than a decade.
Your long nightmare is over.
Steve Nash, he said, “can go ahead and hang up his cup.”
The Phoenix Suns guard, famously kneed in the groin by Bowen during the postseason three years ago, joins bedeviled scorers such as Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and Ray Allen in breathing a little easier today.
The 38-year-old Bowen, regarded as one of the league’s most dogged — and notorious — defenders during an eight-year stint with the Spurs, told a media gathering at Yardley’s Salon and Spa, the business he owns with his wife, that he was done after a “blessed” career.
“It was a joyous occasion for me to be able to play this long in the NBA,” Bowen said. But, he added, “I’m no spring chicken, but more like a rooster now.”
The announcement puts the exclamation point on a 12-season career that saw the former Cal State-Fullerton headliner remake himself as a smothering lock-down defender in San Antonio after a mercurial career that previously had taken him to France, the CBA, and NBA stops in Miami, Boston and Philadelphia.
Signed by the Spurs in the summer of 2001, Bowen made the NBA’s all-defensive first team for five straight years beginning in 2003-04. He also became a solid 3-point threat while serving as the blue-collar background catalyst to three league championships in San Antonio.
“Bruce contributed a great deal to the success of our franchise,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “He’s built a great legacy in the San Antonio community and we all wish him well as he enters into the next phase of his life with his family.”
Bowen, who will remain in San Antonio, plans to remain close to basketball through a hoped-for broadcasting career. He has auditioned for a role with ESPN’s coverage of the NBA, and is scheduled to work in an unspecified role with Turner Broadcasting.
“The thing for Bruce is, he needs to find a sense of purpose and something to fill that void,” said former Spurs standout Sean Elliott, a analyst on the team’s television broadcasts. “That’s going to be the toughest thing for someone like Bruce because he works so hard at it.”
Bowen also hopes to remain proactive in his many charity and promotional works.
“He’s always on the go,” said Yardley, his wife of five years. “He’s hyper.”
As a result, she joked, “I told him when we got married that I expect him out of the house at least four times a week.”
Bowen’s tenure with the Spurs ended on June 24 when he was part of a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons that brought scorer Richard Jefferson to San Antonio. After an extended and frustrating wait, during which Milwaukee shopped him around, the Bucks waived him last month.
Bowen officially became a free agent Aug. 1 when the Bucks paid $2 million to buy out his $4 million contract for the 2009-10 campaign. But the player, who admitted he had considered retiring after the past five seasons, ignored overtures from a scattering of teams, some reportedly contenders.
“They said all the right things,” Bowen said of the flirtations, “but I’m in a different stage in my career.”
He stressed that he would not be returning to play later, noting that he has seen several players do that and regret it afterward. But had the Spurs welcomed him back, he likely would have played another season with the Spurs.
By late last season, however, Bowen sensed he would not be part of San Antonio’s roster plans. After the deal with Milwaukee, a moribund franchise that he had no intention of joining, his decision was in place.
“I always wanted to leave on my own terms,” he said. “I’m able to do that now.”
There is fallout, however, and Bowen let his wife know.
“Now,” he said, “instead of filet mignon, she’s going to have to get the chicken.”
*********************
Taking the Long Way
Bruce Bowen was already 30 when Spurs scouting director Lance Blanks carried a contract to China, where Bowen was on an NBA goodwill tour in 2001. It was one of many stops Bowen made before making San Antonio his home and helping the Spurs win three NBA les:
1989-93: Fresno State — Averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 101 games.
1993-94: Le Havre (France)
1994-95: Évreux (France)
1995-96: Évreux, Fort Wayne Fury (CBA) and Rockford Lightning (CBA)
1996-97: Besançon (France), Rockford, Miami Heat
1997-99: Boston Celtics
1999-00: Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat
2000-01: Heat — Named NBA All-Defensive second team
2001-02: Signs one-year deal with Spurs for $716,000 after Heat coach Pat Riley says Bowen’s skills “can be found and taught.”
2002: Spurs re-sign him to three-year deal for $11.2 million after he averages 7.0 points and is named to that second team again.
Bruce will be missed but maybe we'll be get to see him on TV as an analyst.
Well, it wasn't that surprising, but still, it is sad to see him gone. But I'm somehow glad that he didn't sign with another team (selfish, I know). Bruce will be forever remembered by us Spurs fans as a guy who was a big piece of the success the Spurs have had over the last couple of years. He was just a pro, a hard worker and one the best defenders in the league for such a long time. It would be impossible to overestimate his contributions to the 03, 05 and 07 championships (especially the last one, where he did such a great job against LeBron in the Finals). It is a bad joke he never won the DPoY-Award.
All the best to Bruce and his family - have a great time in your life after basketball. I'm sure they will retire his jersey, they just have to.
You will always be remembered as one of my favorite Spurs! Thank you, Bruce Bowen.
Great player, great character and the perimeter defense menace of the last decade. I wish him all the best for the future and thanks for what he has done for the spurs.
Goodbye Bruce.
Thanks Bruce.I'll hope you watch together with The Admiral when the Spurs have a game.
Thank you Bruce! Embodied the ideal of a hard working professional athlete. He never quit and was a very reliable player in giving effort and by staying healthy for so long. I know he could still play. What a professional, the way he handles the media and this retirement situation. I am very glad he will remain a fixture in the San Antonio community like other SA greats Elliott, Gervin and Robinson. It's going to be really strange to not see him on the court this season. Retire # 12 !
It was a joy and a blessing to have Bruce Bowen on the Spurs. I wish him great success and happiness in all his future endeavors. I hope his plans including co-commentating on Spurs games with Sean Elliott because that would be fantastic!
Bo hopes Bruce continues to do HEB commercials.
Man. It's gonna be different without seeing Bruce on the Spurs roster.
Thanks for all the awesome memories Bruce!
Thank you Mr Bowen.
Enjoy you new life
A man that could win a ball game without scoring a point.
10,
100,
1000,
Bruce
Bowen.
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