We’re still two months away from the start of the 2018 NBA regular season but the Los Angeles Clippers are already putting in work for next summer’s offseason.
On Monday, the Clippers made a bold move as they will not be bringing back former NBA player and three-time NBA champion Bruce Bowen as the team’s TV analyst after he recently made some critical comments about Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard.
Bowen made the following comments on Sirirus XM Radio back on June 22, nearly one month before the Leonard deal took place between the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors.
“I think there’s nothing but excuses going on. First, it was, ‘Well I was misdiagnosed.’ Look here: You got $18 million this year, and you think that they’re trying to rush you? You didn’t play for the most part a full season this year. And you’re the go-to guy, you’re the franchise, and you want to say that they didn’t have your best interest at heart? Are you kidding me?”
“I think he’s getting bad advice. I think what you’re starting to see now is an individual given a certain amount of advice, and it’s not the right advice. Here it is: You were protected in San Antonio. You were able to come up during a time where you still could lean on Tim [Duncan], Tony [Parker] and Manu [Ginobili].”
The 47-year-old was known as an outstanding defender during his NBA career, but he truly made a name for himself during the right years he spent with the Spurs. During that span, Bowen was part of three championship teams and was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five consecutive years from 2004-2008, so it’s pretty clear to see where he was coming from when he said the things he said. However, the Clippers don’t want that to ruin their shot at landing Leonard next summer when his contract expires and are going to do whatever it takes until then.
As for Bowen, he got some support from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith shortly after the news broke.
