HoopsTV Original Content

INTERVIEW: BRUCE BOWEN
Interview by: Michael Kaskey-Blomain

HTV: My first question is, now that the NBA season is in full swing, how does it feel to not be out there playing?

BOWEN: Well my decision to retire wasn't a spur of the moment decision. It was something I've been planning on for four or five years, so it's not some sudden shock. I'm so busy now and have other areas of my life that I get to focus on, spending more time with my family and other things, so I view it as a good thing.

HTV: What are some things that maybe you miss the most, and some other things maybe don't miss from playing?

BOWEN: I mean I'd have to say the comaraderie you develop with your teammates. Playing with the same guys for years, you know during the season you spend more time with your teammates then with your actual family, so they kind of turn into a family. Trust me, I don't miss training camp and I don't miss practice. It's funny because I've had a routine for so long, you know during the day where you follow a routine and take a nap and have your pregame meal. Now, it's just a bi-product of ok, let's see, it's four o'clock, what am I going to do right now? It's interesting how, you don't understand how, the real world operates, because you're so conditioned to a system.

HTV:What made you decide that maybe it was time to hang it up?

BOWEN: Part of it was being away from my family, you know that was the case for me to play another year (referring to the fact that he was traded to Milwaukee and would no longer be living and playing in San Antonio). You know, I'm the father of two young boys, so if that meant there was going be separation, it's different when you travel and you come back home, whereas if I'm on another team I just didn't want to deal with the process of being away from my kids and my family, so as I said, I had prepared for this, and I just thought that you know now was the right time.

HTV: What is your fondest memory of your time in the League?

BOWEN: I have been fortunate enough of course to be a part of three championships, so those rate high, and getting a chance to play with some of the players I've played with. You know David Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame this year; that is something that I could not have dreamt of, and I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to play with someone of the character of David. Then you talk about San Antonio, we spent the most time with each other and in the process of those championships as well. You know, those are fond memories there, being amongst those guys, and it's the relationships that you create in the League that are lasting, you know, you may come and go to different teams and things like that but what it's really about is the comaraderie and the relationships that you might build.

Well known and often feared for his defense, his ability guard has made a lot of fans forget that Bowen could knock down threes at will.

HTV: It's well known that you made a name for yourself in the League for your defensive abilities. How were you able to dedicate yourself to defense in a League that is so fascinated by scoring?

BOWEN: Well I think it was just me wanting to be on the floor, and when I first came into the League that was the only way that I could get on the floor, you know through defense, being that it was Miami and Pat Riley had his system and things like that, and I was about to just come in and start getting shots. I felt like, you know, call me crazy if you'd like, but I felt like if I'm ever on the floor then I'd have the opportunity to make big shots, and I think that's what players would like to do to be a part of a championship-caliber team is to have an opportunity to make big shots, and also affect the game where you're putting your stamp on the game. So, I guess part of it is just as a kid loving the game of basketball, you understand that sometimes you need to do whatever you can in order to, you know, get out there on the floor. You were a very polarizing player in your playing days. What do you think your basketball legacy will be? BB: You know, that I maximized the most out of my talent. Everybody is blessed with different talents and sometimes guys tend to want to do all of the other things when it's not their destiny. So I think more than anything else my legacy, if there is one, just that I'm one who maximized the most out of his potential, and when he was on the floor he gave it a hundred and ten percent.

HTV: Some people interpreted your hustle and tenacity on the defensive end as dirty play. What's your response to those who say that you were a dirty player?

BOWEN: I think part of it is that I was an aggressive player, and how could you not be in this game, especially going up against some of the guys that I would go up against night in and night out. So, I've grown thick skin for that stuff quickly because I understand it's something that they have to do, as far as people telling a story, and nothing I could do could change people's opinion if that is already what they thought. One year they would talk about how I couldn't shoot and I lead the League in three point field goal percentage. But, nothing was ever said about that because people already had their thought process about what I was. So after a while that stuff didn't bother me because I understood if they're sitting up there whining and complaining about me, then I must be doing something right in this game.

HTV: That has to be frustrating, right?

BOWEN: That's the thing. I understand where, a few coaches have said, yeah Bruce is dirty if you're playing against him, but he's a player that you'd love to have, and that's all that matters to me. I don't put too much creed in that fact, but when people said that it allowed me to understand that they weren't necessarily competing. See, you never heard Michael Jordan call someone dirty. Even though, the Pistons during that time were hard fouling him, he never called them dirty. It was just something that entered in and someone else ran with it. But the true competitors of the game, they just compete. They don't say anything about anyone else, they just compete, and that's what it's all about. So, if I were ever to complain about something, say if someone pushed off to create space, is that person dirty for pushing off to get their shot? I don't think so, so it's all a matter of whose saying this and you go from there, you take it with a grain of salt and you keep it moving.

HTV: You bounced around the League a little bit before finding a home in San Antonio. What made the Spurs right for you? Why were they such a good fit?

BOWEN: Well I had had the opportunity to play with a dominant big man before in Alonzo Mourning, so I kind of understood how important spacing was in the game of basketball, especially if you're trying to win a championship, so it was another opportunity for me to go out and try to show someone what I could do.

It's hard to believe, but Bowen says Kobe was NOT the toughest player for him to guard.

HTV:You once started an amazing 500 straight games. What was the key behind that ridiculous streak?

BOWEN: I appreciated the game. I understood that it was not my right to play, but it was an honor to play the basketball. Here it is, you got people fighting over in other countries just to protect our freedom and I get to play the game of basketball. Being that I do get that opportunity, I'm trying to maximize the most out of it, which allowed me not to take the game for granted.

HTV: You spent a little time playing ball in France, so I was wondering how do you feel about players, guys like Josh Childress or Von Wafer bouncing from the NBA to Europe, or even somebody like Brandon Jennings actually skipping college or leaving the NBA to play overseas?

BOWEN: I don't like that decision from guys that decide that they want to skip college and go overseas. My thought process is what happens if you have a career-ending knee injury, can you go back to school then? At least going college you will start the process of learning how to take care of yourself and get an education. There's so many things that you learn in the aspects of just going out and being able to pay your bills in college. You hear so many bad situations about players today that end up, you know, they're spending their money the wrong way, and it makes you wonder, what kind of guidance did that individual have? And a lot of them don't have any guidance, but they want to stop right there and use that as an excuse. In my opinion you can't use that as an excuse because there are times that you learn things with smaller amounts of money, like college. You know in college if all you have is $200 left after paying all your bills, you better go get some groceries; you can't afford those twenty dollar dinners every night or you're going to come up short. I just think there is so many life lessons in college and learning how to be responsible and I wish guys wouldn't skip that process of life because they're speeding through trying to accomplish the goal of playing in the NBA or anything like that. I believe if it is meant for you it will be there in the right time.

HTV: I'd like to ask you one question about your old teammate Tim Duncan. Now as great as he is, a sure fire hall of famer, his serious attitude and demeanor, along with his style of play often get him labeled as boring by the casual fan. What could you tell us about what Tim's like off the court as far as being a teammate and a leader?

BOWEN: I mean, it's just like anyone else man. People have their private life and people have their life in front of the media, and unfortunately people always want to know the behind the scenes type things with Tim and what he does. Tim is a family man, he enjoys hanging with his family and doing things, you know, a lot like others, it's just that he is recognizable all over the world. That's the biggest difference and he's recognized because of the great talent that he has.

HTV: Who is the toughest player that you ever had to guard?

BOWEN: Of course Michael Jordan, but other than that I think Michael Redd because he is left handed and I only saw Michael Redd twice a year, so he created more problems for me because of his ability to get his shot off quick. Also he was awkward as far as where his release point was for his shot. You know, a lot of people might think Kobe. Well, I basically knew what Kobe was going to do night in, night out, as far as the individual, but I didn't see Michael Redd as often as I did Kobe, so there were more things, or surprises, with Michael Redd than there was with Kobe.

Bowen won three titles with the Spurs, but doesn't rock the championship ice.

HTV: You have three championship rings. That's a lot of rings. What do you do with those guys?

BOWEN: I have them in my closet.

HTV: You never break them out and wear them?

BOWEN: Nah, I think you know, as some folks have said, in time history will show you what I have done, and that is so much of the truth. You know, here it is, Rob (Robert Horry) has seven (rings) and you don't hear him, you know, talking about any of them.

HTV: Alright Bruce we'll get you out of here on this one. What are your predictions for the 2009-10 NBA season?

BOWEN: You know, because the Lakers won it all last year, they're still the favorites. They have an incredible team and it's very deep with a lot of length, so when they finally get all their players on the floor it is going to be interesting to see how they respond to having that target on their back as far as being the team that everybody's coming after night in and night out.

HTV: What about your Spurs team? They've been known for flying under the radar and it looks as though this year will be no different.

BOWEN: I think they'll definitely fly under the radar, but I think, and I say to people here, you have to give them time, because it takes time to blend in a group of guys that never played with one another. So, that's going to be the biggest obstacle for a lot of their players; understanding that their time is going to come where they will gel, but just not trying to force it to happen, but allowing it to happen. So I look forward to the Spurs doing something after the All-Star break as far as really getting it going and guys feeling more comfortable with the team.

Bowen's three 'chip rings and 500 straight games streak should earn him a place in the Spurs Hall of Fame.