The San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame has named five extraordinary individuals to the class of 2012. Bruce Bowen, three-time NBA champion, Stan Bonewitz., former state champion basketball coach at East Central High School, David Hill, NFL Pro Bowl player with the Detroit Lions, Leticia Morales-Bissaro, pitcher on St. Mary’s University’s national championship softball team, and notable U.S. equestrian leader, Lt. Col. John Russell will be recognized at the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Tribute on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 in the Alamodome.
Bowen was a three-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and was heralded as one of the best defensive players in the league. He was named eight times to the NBA All Defensive first and second teams (was a second-team selection from 2001-03 before earning first-team honors from 2004-08). Bowen played 873 regular games over 13 seasons in the NBA, eight with the Spurs, and played 500 consecutive games between Feb. 2002 and March 2008. He appeared in 130 playoff games, all but 13 of those games with the Silver and Black. For his career, Bowen averaged 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting .409 (818-2,082) from three-point range. Among Spurs all-time leaders Bowen ranks second in three-pointers made (661) and attempted (1,662), seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.405) and eighth in games played (630). Prior to joining the Spurs Bowen enjoyed two stints with the Miami Heat and spent time with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. He also played in France and spent two seasons in the CBA with the Fort Wayne Fury and Rockford Lightning. Bowen played his collegiate ball for Cal State Fullerton and went undrafted.