Sam Bowie

Sam Bowie is a former professional basketball player whose career spanned throughout the mid 1980’s to the mid ‘90’s. Bowie was born and raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. As the star of his high school basketball team standing over 7 feet tall, literally, he easily became a highly recruited center and was even named the National Player of the Year. Bowie went on to attend the University of Kentucky where he averaged twelve points and eight rebounds a game his freshman season. Shortly after, he was selected for the United States Olympic men’s basketball team and by his senior season, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. With collegiate statistics blowing fans out of the water, Bowie’s jersey number 31 was retired by his alma mater as he was selected as the second overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft. The Portland Trail Blazers received the honor of making Bowie a member of their roster for five consecutive seasons, until he was traded to the New Jersey Nets and later the Los Angeles Lakers. He last debuted professionally for the Lakers in 1985 and ultimately retired with nearly 5,600 points, 4,000 rebounds and just under 1,000 blocks. Bowie has been featured in ESPN documentaries since retirement and has taken up an interest in harness racing, while he owns and trains horses.