Bruce Bowen

Bruce Eric Bowen Jr. (born June 14, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player.

Bowen played small forward and graduated from Edison High School and Cal State Fullerton.

He went on to play for the National Basketball Association's Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs and the Continental Basketball Association's Rockford Lightning, and also played abroad in France.

After averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 36.6 minutes in 27 games as a senior in 1992–93, he was named to the All-Big West Conference First Team.

After finishing his four-year college eligibility, Bowen was eligible for the 1993 NBA draft, but went undrafted.

Between 1993 and 1997, Bowen played for five different teams, starting his professional career for the French team of Le Havre in 1993–94.

Bowen played for Évreux during the 1994–95 season.

In 1995–96, Bowen played in the CBA with the Rockford Lightning.

Bowen spent the next season back in France with Besançon.

Bowen returned to the Lightning in February 1997.

Bowen made his NBA debut when he was signed to a ten-day contract by the Miami Heat in March 1997.

His output consisted of 1 game, 1 minute and 1 block.

In the 1997–98 NBA season, Bowen reappeared in the NBA, having been signed by the Boston Celtics.

With the Celtics, Bowen slowly established himself in the NBA.

In his first full year as an NBA player, he appeared in 61 games (nine of them as starter) with the Celtics, averaging 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.43 steals in 21.4 minutes per game, shooting .409 from the field, .339 from three-point land and .623 from the free throw line.

The next year was a disappointment for him, as Bowen appeared in only 30 Celtics games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game.

In the 1999–2000 NBA season, Bowen signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bowen was later traded to the Chicago Bulls and immediately waived, then picked up off waivers by the Miami Heat.

In that season, he wore jersey #12 instead of #3 and appeared in 69 games, averaging 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game, and scored in double-figures six times.

In the following year, Bowen was retained by the Heat.

In that year, he had his breakout season.

For the first time in his career, he played in all 82 regular-season games, averaged 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.01 steals in 32.7 minutes per game and set new single-season career-highs in games, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, minutes, field goals made and attempted, three-point goals made and attempted and free throws made and attempted.

Bowen logged more minutes (2,685 vs. 2,678), scored more points (623 vs. 606) and hit more threes (103 vs. 54) than he had in his first four seasons combined.

Especially, Bowen earned himself a reputation as a defensive stopper.

For his strong perimeter defense, he was voted into the All-Defensive Second Team.

In the 2001–02 NBA season, Bowen was signed by the San Antonio Spurs.

He joined a championship-caliber team, led by veteran Hall-of-Fame center David Robinson and young power forward Tim Duncan, complemented by talented role players like Steve Smith, Malik Rose, Antonio Daniels and point guards Terry Porter and Tony Parker.

One of the most feared perimeter "lockdown" defenders in NBA history, Bowen was elected to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams eight times, and was a member of the Spurs teams that won the NBA championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

At the same time, he was frequently accused of having a "dirty" playstyle and endangering other players.

Off the court, Bowen became an informal ambassador for child obesity awareness.

Bruce Bowen Jr. was born in Merced, California.

He is the son of Bruce Bowen Sr. and Dietra Campbell.

Bowen had a problematic childhood growing up in Merced.

According to Bowen, his earnings from selling newspapers were taken from him by his father so that his father could buy alcohol.

Bowen has also stated that he only saw his father "from time to time".

He has asserted that his mother took drugs, and that she once sold the family television to feed her crack cocaine habit.

Bowen has an uncle named Darryl who looked out for him as a child; he regards Darryl and his sons as brothers.

Bruce Jr. spent his days playing basketball and eventually became a star at local West Fresno Edison High School.

He then played four seasons at Cal State Fullerton, appearing in 101 games, and averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Bowen ranks 12th on the Titans' all-time list in career points (1,155) and is seventh all-time in rebounds (559).