Samuel Paul Bowie, born on 17 March 1961, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania USA, is a former professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He is probably best known for being chosen before the great Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft, but also for his multiple injuries that plagued his basketball career.
So just how rich is Sam Bowie at present? According to sources in mid-2016, Bowie has a net worth of over $3 million, which has been established largely during his basketball career.
Sam Bowie Net Worth $3 Million
Bowie attended Lebanon High School, where he played basketball for the school team, being selected McDonald’s All-American and Parade All-American, as well as national player of the year. In 1979 he enrolled at the University of Kentucky, joining the Kentucky Wildcats team under coach Joe B. Hall. While at Kentucky, Bowie was chosen for the United States Olympic men’s basketball team – which suffered from the US boycott of the Moscow Olympics – and was named a third-team NCAA Basketball All-American by the Associated Press, after setting the Kentucky record for most blocked shots in a game with nine. This was the time when the player suffered his first leg injury, a stress fracture which caused him to miss two whole seasons. Upon returning to the court in his last season with the Wildcats, Bowie was named second-team All-American and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
In 1984 he was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers as the second pick in the NBA Draft, ahead of the famed Michael Jordan. The Blazers’ move with Bowie was considered as the worst draft pick in North American basketball history by ESPN, due to his injury-laden college career. During his rookie season, Bowie made it to the NBA All-Rookie Team, however, in the second season he suffered a leg injury again. Two more injuries followed in his next two seasons with the Blazers, and Bowie was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of his right tibia. This caused him to participate in only 63 games, out of possible 328, during his four seasons with the Blazers, averaging 10.5 points per game.
In 1989 Bowie was traded to the New Jersey Nets, remaining four seasons with the team. In his first season he averaged a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He hit a career high in points per game with 15.0 in his third season, and played a career high 79 games in the fourth, averaging 9.1 points per game and seven rebounds. Playing with the Nets is considered Bowie’s most successful period, in which he averaged 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. His net worth was boosted.
In 1993 the player was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, however, the injuries started catching up with him again, which caused him to play in only 92 games and start 17 during his two seasons with the team.
Plagued by injuries, in 1995 Bowie retired from professional basketball. In spite of the multiple injuries he suffered, Bowie is still considered as an outstanding player who amassed considerable wealth through his profession. During his 10-year-long basketball career he averaged 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.78 blocks per game, and hit 45.2% of his attempted field goals and 30.2% of his three-point shots.
He moved to Lexington where he still lives, and became involved in harness racing, as the owner and trainer of horses that run at The Red Mile.
When it comes to his private life, Bowie has been married to Heidi since 1986, and they have three children. As an avid golfer, the former player is a member of several golf clubs.
