Ryan Bowen

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Ryan Bowen
Position	Small forward
League	NBA
Height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight	218 lb (99 kg)
Team	TAU Cerámica
Nationality	United States
Born	November 20, 1975 Fort Madison, Iowa
College	Iowa
Draft	2nd round, 26th pick, 1998 Denver Nuggets
Pro career	1998–present
Former teams	Denver Nuggets 1998-2004 Houston Rockets (2004-06)

Ryan Bowen (born November 20, 1975 in Fort Madison, Iowa) is a professional basketball player. He is a 6'9" small forward.

1 Career
2 Player profile
3 Off the court
4 External links

[edit] Career

Bowen played college basketball at the University of Iowa, where he continues to hold the record in career steals. Bowen was a second round draft pick of the Denver Nuggets in the 1998 NBA Draft. He played five seasons for the Nuggets before being picked up by the Houston Rockets. After two seasons with Houston, Bowen was released before the 2006-07 season began.

In January 2007, he was signed by TAU Cerámica to a two-month deal in advance of the Euroleague Top 16, in which they had already secured a top seed. The team has the option to extend the contract through the end of the European season.[1]

[edit] Player profile

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Statistically, Bowen is one of the least productive players in NBA history, with lifetime averages of 2.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 13.7 minutes per game. But he is revered for his "intangibles," including hustle and defense. In the 2005 NBA Playoffs, he received a rare starting nod and with it high praise for his defense of Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, who made a dismal 13 of 40 shots in the first two games against Houston. At the time, sports media attempted to dub Bowen "The Dirk Stopper." He immediately demanded the media to "cut that stuff out."

Miami Heat coach Pat Riley once proclaimed Bowen “the best hustling player I’ve ever seen in the NBA.” Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson once compared Ryan Bowen to Dennis Rodman, citing their "inexhaustible hustle and astounding athleticism".

[edit] Off the court

He sponsors the "Floor Burns" Basketball Camp every Summer in his homestate of Iowa.

He established the Bowen Family Foundation to help sponsor youth athletics, athletic facilities and college scholarships for kids in Eastern Iowa and Denver, Colorado.