Kentucky legend drafted before Michael Jordan — one of history's great what-ifs after devastating injuries.
Samuel Paul Bowie was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1961. He attended the University of Kentucky under coach Joe B. Hall and was regarded as the best center prospect since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His Kentucky career was severely disrupted by stress fractures in his left leg that cost him his junior and senior seasons in 1981-82 and 1982-83 — he missed two full years before returning as a fifth-year senior in 1984. His intact seasons produced 17.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He was a two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year when healthy. Portland Trail Blazers selected him second overall in the 1984 NBA Draft — ahead of Michael Jordan at third. The selection has since become the most discussed drafting decision in NBA history. His professional career was limited by the same leg injury issues that disrupted his college years. His college career — what it was before the injuries and what it might have been without them — represents one of basketball's most poignant stories: a genuinely gifted player whose ceiling was higher than almost anyone's but who was denied the opportunity to reach it.
All-American 2x
Career Honours
- All-American 2x
- SEC Player of Year
- Tournament hero
- Kentucky career scoring records