Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: 10 best players from 2nd NBA decade (1986-96)

By Phil Watson

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - 1993: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets rebounds against the Chicago Bulls during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - 1993: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets rebounds against the Chicago Bulls during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – 1991: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers circa 1991 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Sam Bowie. 7. player. 147. . C. Acquired in trade from Portland Trail Blazers, June 24, 1989

Big Sam Bowie never caught a break in his career and certainly didn’t when he was acquired by the New Jersey Nets along with a first-round draft pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for franchise icon Buck Williams in June 1989.

Bowie put together two of his healthiest seasons as a member of the Nets, appearing in a career-high 79 games in 1992-93, but health was always the concern with the 7-foot-1 center.

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He spent four seasons in New Jersey before being dealt in June 1993 along with a 1998 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for another under-achieving center, Benoit Benjamin.

In his time with the Nets, Bowie averaged 12.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game, missing 14 games in 1989-90 and 20 in 1990-91 while shooting .436/.286/.762.

In two playoff appearances in 1992 and 1993, Bowie started seven games and averaged 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 26.1 minutes a night, shooting.429/1-for-2/10-for-14.

Bowie missed two full seasons due to a broken leg while still at the University of Kentucky and it was a problem that followed him to the NBA.

He had the misfortune of being selected between a pair of Hall of Famers in the 1984 NBA Draft, going No. 2 overall to Portland — one pick after Hakeem Olajuwon and one pick before … Michael Jordan.

Bowie made the All-Rookie first team in 1984-85 before breaking his leg again in 1986, missing 44 games. He broke it again each of the next two seasons, playing in five games, and returned late in 1988-89 to appear in 20 games.

He retired in September 1995 after two injury-plagued years with the Lakers.

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