Today Bruce Bowen turns the big 5-0.
The three-time NBA Champion and defensive stalwart spent his final eight seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He worked his into the NBA after stints overseas and a couple of season in the now defunct Continental Basketball Association.
In his first two seasons with the Spurs Bowen made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. The next five seasons he made the NBA All-Defensive First Team, defining the role of the modern 3-and-D player.
Unfortunately, Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Richard Jefferson.