Bruce Bowen retires from the NBA

[Drucci]

Per ESPN :

After helping the San Antonio Spurs win three championships and establishing himself as one of the premier perimeter defenders of the decade, Bruce Bowen is retiring at 38.

Bowen told ESPN.com that he will formally announce his retirement at a Thursday afternoon news conference and said he would elaborate more on his decision then.

Bowen made the NBA all-defensive first time five times, from 2003-04 through 2007-08, and was a three-time second-team selection from 2000-01 through 2002-03.

It is believed that Bowen, who became an unrestricted free agent Aug. 1 when the Milwaukee Bucks bought out the final year of his contract, has decided to step away from the game because of his growing desire to pursue off-court business and community interests as well as a career in broadcasting.

Bowen ends his career with 5,290 points, 1,089 assists and 712 steals in 873 games. He was a career 39.3 percent 3-point shooter and led the league in 3-point field goal percentage in 2002-03.

I guess the February comeback is not an option anymore.

[fairweatherfan]

He's just playing possum.  In December when a guy in a ninja outfit runs on the court and knees Steve Nash in the groin, remember you heard it here first...

[Celtic]

NBA player's ankles are safe... for now.

[Redz]

The guy mad a hell of a career out of being a pain in the butt defender,

[MaineBleedsGreen]

atleast he's stepping away on his own terms... instead of fading into oblivion like so many others before him.

[Who]

That's too bad, Bowen was still a decent role player. He could have helped somebody.

[afflatus]

Great career Bruce.

Should they retire his number? If he had won the rings with the Celtics, I say No. But the Celtics are one thing and the rest of the NBA is another. So YES. I think the Spurs, being part of "The rest of the NBA" should have his number retired.

[PosImpos]

Yeah, the Spurs should retire his number.  It's not like they have a ton of great players in their past.

[cornbreadsmart]

the guy made a great career out of being the biggest cheapshot coward the game has ever seen. i think it's a real shame he never got what he deserved. retire his #?if the c's were on the road that night ray allen should pull a "abdul-rauf" and wait in the locker room until it's over.

[Dybdal]

If i ever meet him, i would really not hold any grudge against the man for his cheep(ness), he played hard every night and made a carrer of doing something most cant do well.