Bruce Bowen (38) announced his retirement this afternoon. After being dealt to Milwaukee in a trade that brought Richard Jefferson to the Spurs, Bowen was waived and it was widely expected that he would sign with a championship contender.
Bowen, who was selected eight times for the NBA’s all-defensive team, felt his widespread reputation for being a dirty player was unfair. In respnse to that perception Bowen stated, “People are entitled to their own opinions and I’ve been fighting that for quite some time here. If anything, what people remember me for now is that I have three championships.”
Bowen was clearly not the same player he once was this past season, and that ultimately led to this decision. He may not have been a great player but he did what he had to do, regardless of how he was perceived. Bowen is a perfect example of getting the most out of your talent and being a role player. This was a player you either loved or hated, plain and simple. You either thought he was a tough as nails competitor, or that he was dirty.
What say you?