31 Sam Bowie

Sam Bowie was born Samuel Paul Bowie on March 17, 1961, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Ben Bowie and Cathy “Sammy” Bowie.  His father was 6 ft 10 in and had played basketball for the Harlem Magicians for six seasons.

Bowie made a significant impact during his time at the University of Kentucky in the 1980s. Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 235 pounds, Bowie was a dominant center known for his impressive skills and potential.

Bowie’s basketball journey began at Lebanon High School, where he quickly became a standout player. He averaged over 28 points and 18 rebounds per game, earning him recognition as a McDonald’s and Parade All-American. His exceptional performance on the court made him one of the most heavily recruited players in the country.   Bowie was named national player of the year in 1979. He received the honor over Harrisonburg, Virginia’s Ralph Sampson, another highly recruited center. Sampson and Bowie played in the annual Capital Classic all-star game, which was dubbed the “Battle of the Giants” played at the Capital Centre, the game featured the best players in the Washington, D.C. area playing against an all-star squad composed of players from across the United States.  In February 1979, a Sports Illustrated magazine article feature focused on Bowie, Sampson and Steve Stipanovich as the best high school centers.

Bowie played in the 1979 McDonald’s All-American Game. The memorable rosters included: Antoine Carr, Quintin Dailey, Sidney Green, Clark Kellogg, Greg Kite, Sidney Lowe, John Paxson, Ralph Sampson, Byron Scott, Steve Stipanovich, Isiah Thomas, Dereck Whittenburg, Dominique Wilkins and James Worthy.

Bowie committed to play for the University of Kentucky Wildcats under head coach Joe B. Hall. In his freshman season (1979–80), Bowie quickly established himself as one of the premier centers in college basketball. He averaged 12.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. His sophomore season saw further improvement, with Bowie averaging 17.4 points and 9 rebounds per game, leading Kentucky to an SEC championship and the 1981 NCAA Tournament.

However, Bowie’s promising career was halted by injuries. Stress fractures in his left leg forced him to miss the entire 1981–82 and 1982–83 seasons. Despite these setbacks, Bowie returned for the 1983–84 season, showcasing his resilience and skill.  Having not played in two years, he played in all 34 Kentucky games and averaged 10.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. He was named to the Associated Press second-team All-American team. During his senior season, his heroics in a game against rival Louisville earned him a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Bowie, along with fellow “Twin Tower” Melvin Turpin (as the Kentucky frontcourt duo was called), and Kenny Walker led Kentucky to the SEC championship, the SEC Tournament Championship, a top-three national ranking, and a 26–4 season record.  In the 1984 NCAA tournament, the Wildcats defeated Brigham Young 93–68, in-state rival Louisville 72–67 and Illinois 54–51 to advance to the Final Four in Seattle. Bowie had 16 points and 6 rebounds against BYU, 8 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks against Louisville and 11 points and 14 rebounds against Illinois.  In the Final Four, Kentucky met eventual NCAA Champion Georgetown, with Patrick Ewing in the semi-finals. Kentucky led at the half, but Georgetown defeated the Wildcats 53–40, ending Bowie’s college career. Bowie had 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the loss. Ewing had 8 points and 9 rebounds with 0 blocks.

In 96 career games at Kentucky, Bowie averaged 13.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 assists on 69.9% shooting. Bowie played 3 seasons in five years.

Bowie’s professional career began when he was selected as the second overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, ahead of Michael Jordan. Despite facing numerous injuries throughout his career, Bowie played ten seasons in the NBA, representing the Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets, and Los Angeles Lakers. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1985 and had his number 31 retired by the Kentucky Wildcats.

Sam Bowie’s journey is a testament to his resilience and determination. While his professional career may have been marred by injuries, his impact on the game and his legacy as a standout player for the Kentucky Wildcats remain undeniable.