Bowen is not about to slow down
Web Posted: 10/31/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....11c9a9e4.html
Bruce Bowen's 34th birthday came and went June 14 like most have for him in recent years. His teammates didn't give him a cake. Or even bother to serenade him with "Happy Birthday."
The Spurs had their excuses. After all, a 17-point loss in the NBA Finals doesn't make for the most festive of occasions.
But as much as Bowen tries to feign disappointment over the snub, he also knows this: If no one acknowledged his birthday, shouldn't his age also be overlooked?
"It's almost like you're scared to say it," Bowen said. "Because whenever you say that number and you're not Michael Jordan or Reggie Miller, or some big post man, everybody is like, 'Uh-oh we better get on the phone and find somebody else.'"
In Bowen's case, the Spurs are still looking. On Tuesday, he will make his 273rd consecutive start, second only to Minnesota's Kevin Garnett among active players. Include the 67 playoff games Bowen also has started during that stretch, and he trails no one.
About to begin his 10th NBA season, Bowen has distinguished himself not only as of the league's premier defenders but also one of its most durable performers. In his first four seasons with the Spurs, he has had one injury: a right middle finger he broke Jan. 9, 2002, when Boston's Paul Pierce chopped him across the hand.
The Spurs haven't been able to get him out of the lineup since. Last season, Bowen became the oldest player to make the All-Defensive first team since Jordan at age 35 in 1998.
Bowen's goal this season is the same as it has been each year: to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
"If Edwin Moses was still outrunning cats when he was old enough to be their father," Bowen said, "I think I can keep playing."
Other people apparently think the same. Last week, Bowen was voted the top perimeter defender in the NBA's annual general managers' survey.
His reputation only grew during last season's playoffs. In consecutive series, he flustered Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Seattle's Ray Allen, Phoenix's Shawn Marion and Detroit's Richard Hamilton.
"Bruce just never seems to get tired," Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer said. "He outlasts guys."
That includes some of his younger teammates. From Stephen Jackson to Devin Brown to Linton Johnson III, the Spurs have brought in an athletic swingman each summer for Bowen to "mentor." So far, only Bowen has remained.
"I don't take this for granted," he said. "I know each year when somebody comes in here, I have to be on all P's and Q's. I have to dive for that loose ball to set a tone. I want to send a message to the others that, 'Man, Bruce is still going.'"
That said, Bowen, like most of the Spurs, figures to see his minutes drop this season. With Brent Barry and Michael Finley, the team should have more than adequate depth at the swing positions.
"I'm going to be careful with Bruce the way I have with Robert Horry," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Even though he doesn't want me to, I have to do it.
"I sat him this preseason and actually told him having other guys here can extend your career ... that he can't keep doing what he's doing forever. It takes too much effort.
"He looked at me like I hurt his feelings to the bone, like I was going to take his life away. He lives for it."
Though Bowen is at an age when most players lose a step, he didn't become an NBA regular until 26. His workout routine, the coaches say, rivals that of Avery Johnson. And in addition to eating well, he doesn't like alcohol.
"I've tasted something with Pop that Napoleon drank," Bowen said, "and it was like, 'Hmmm, who wants mine?'"
Bowen became a dad this summer when his wife, Yardley, gave birth to their first son, Ojani. Neither fatherhood nor age, however, seems to have slowed him down.
Including this season, he has three more years on his contract, the last of which isn't fully guaranteed. He can see himself playing until he's 38 before possibly taking another job with the team.
"In the end, we all want to be remembered," Bowen said. "I want people to think of Bruce Bowen as the guy who epitomized the Spurs: He came to work every day and he played his tail off."
I love Bruce. he's so dedicated and a very hard worker. I can see him playing till he's 40. Obviously not at the same level at which he plays now, but only maybe just a peg or two lower. I'd say he takes care of himself just like Kevin Willis does.
If he can play until he's at least 40, or at least if he takes another job with the Spurs, we won't have to rush to find someone for him to mentor
keep it up bruce!!!
Bruce is in such great shape. He's got at least another 2-3 seasons in him as a starter. Which buys the Spurs some time to try and replace him.
I'm a total Bowen homer. Hope he plays til he's 40, and wins DPOY for the next 5 years.
coopdogg3
Bruce Bowen is a great player and he does wonders for the city's youth with his exercise program. I hope he plays with us for another 8 more years, im sure it wont happen but Bowen is a great player and humanitarian
Bruce All Mighty
Well said!
me too.
I can't stand the "need a replacement for Bowen" talk becasue I can easily see him playing well for us 4 yrs from now. I hope he stays a Spurs for the rest of his career.. but either way I'm confident he'll be playing till 40+.
And one of these days he needs to get that DPOY trophy.. it is way past due!
Yeah, he really deserves DPOY.. he's an awesome defensive player...
Bruce is such a good guy. Spurs fans are totally blessed to have men like this on our team.And one of these days he needs to get that DPOY trophy.. it is way past due!
I throw that replacement for Bowen thing out there, because it takes a long time to develop that level of defense and the 3's. I want him to be able to teach someone up right and they be able to step right in without missing a step in 4 or 5 years.me too.
I can't stand the "need a replacement for Bowen" talk becasue I can easily see him playing well for us 4 yrs from now. I hope he stays a Spurs for the rest of his career.. but either way I'm confident he'll be playing till 40+.
And one of these days he needs to get that DPOY trophy.. it is way past due!
I don't think he needs to be replaced now, but I shiver at the thought of his leaving. Kori made a good argument over the summer about why Bruce should have won Finals MVP - no way we won without Bruce on Rip and then rotating to Chauncey.
I think Bowen will play this season and two more (the last of those in limited minutes) to finish out his contract and then transition into the Spurs coaching staff. Some people think he might get a front office job, but Bowen teaching defense would be sweet.
Bowen is still very fast and the most physically conditioned Spur, but he won't be here forever. There's a reason that the Spurs have been looking for his replacement for the past few years. His are going to be very big shoes to fill.
We all know Duncan will have his number retired by the spurs, and Manu will also likely get his retired in due time if he just continues to do what he's doing.
But what if Bowen continues what he's doin for say , another 3-4 years, ya'll think he will also have his jersey retired by the spurs?????
When Bruce retires he should get serious jersey retirment consideration...and not just because of his play and leadership on the court. Don't forget that Bruce's first year here, he took a huge paycut for an opportunity to start, and the last offseason he restructured his contract so the Spurs could sign Brent Barry....
I had Barry's back all season, but I couldn't help but notice that he was making a lot more bank than Bowen was, and doing a of a lot less, because of Bowen, and Bowen didn't say a word about it. That type of proffessionalism and team first at ude is another reason Bowen should be considered a candidate for jersey retirement, and always be remembered as a great Spur. It's noticed Bruce...
That said...with regards to the age thing...I have long been one of the voices of caution with concerns over Bruce's age...
It IS an issue and it is foolish, and actually a huge dis of what Bruce brings to the team, to think we shouldn't make having a replacement lined up for him a top priority...because he is going to age...and he is going to be very difficult to replace....it's not something you just worry about when it happens...it something you focus on if you want to keep a potential dynasty going.
In my experience as a sportsfan...and this is no dis to Bruce...but when you have a compe or like Bruce, a guy that works as hard as he does, and that competes as hard as he does...
Well...these guys are always the last to know, and admit, when their times have come...see Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, and...Michael Jordan for examples of this. Now the flipside of this is that these guys usually do last longer than most...but their time still comes whether they want to admit it or not.
Pop learned to never listen to David Robinson on if David was capable of playing at his highest level late in his career. He learned to watch him to determine how much PT he should get or when he should get rested. High character aside...the Admiral just wasn't trustworthy on acknowledging if he was capable of playing at his highest level...and in my experience, compe ive, or team first guys, are always like this...If it was easy for them to know when to quit, or admit when they couldn't do it anymore, they wouldn't be compe ive or team first guys.
So give Bruce his props, be very glad for that season when he took a loss of a about 2-3 million for a chance to start here...consider his jersey for retirment...but watch him close, pay attention to his minutes, and plan for the future, if you want to keep this thing going.
Last year I recall catching a few Clipper games on League Pass, and a couple of times I heard the announcers remark that Quinton Ross is a good defender. Might be worth keeping an eye on. Similar backround to Bruce - undrafted out of college (SMU); signed and then released by the Clippers; played a year in Europe; and now he's the backup 2 guard on the Clippers. He's a little on the thin side, 6'6", 195.
Probably not going to happen, but, I'll watch him few times this year and develop a better opinion.
Bruce Bowen, to me, is like the Defensive version of Reggie Miller. He has similar work ethic and at ude. While Reggie came in night in and night out focusing on offense, Bruce does the same with defense. And it seems to me that San Antonio fans love Bruce similarly to the way Indiana fans loved Reggie.
What the article didn't mention was that Pop also put Bruce on Chauncey, the Pistons' goto crunch guy, in the 4th qtrs, and crunch time, with tremendous results.
Bruce's work on Chauncey in 4th qtr of Game7 was very close to being le-deciding.
Bruce es Dio
The often debated should so and so get their number retired argument.
What I would like to see is some sort of museum, perhaps down town that would chronicle the history of the Spurs and recognize the many crucial players that may not warrant their number hanging in the rafters of the SBC (or AT&T) Center but are important in the lore of the Spurs. There are some buildings in Hemisfair Park near the old arena site that would be a great place to stick just such place.
I don't know where you would get the money to open it and keep it open but I sure would go.
the bigest mistake of pat riley in this life time, letting bruce gat away and calling him one demensional. who's better? Posey or bruce?
The reality is he will eventuall slow down, so they need to find that young SF he can teach before it is to late.
Most importantly, Bruce reminds us of the importance of defence. Any kids that come through our system will learn at least something defensively from him.
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