Sydney Kings rookie Brian Bowen II, the first ever participant in the NBL’s Next Stars program wowed multiple scouts at the NBA Draft Combine this week.
The six-foot-seven forward with a six-foot-ten wingspan averaged 10.5 points and 5 rebounds in a pair of combine scrimmages, making him a certainty to be drafted this year.
Bowen did nothing but boost his stock not only with his play, but also his work outs, attitude and physicality. He ranked in the top-five among forwards for corner shooting numbers and ) and weighed in at 200 pounds with only 6.5% body fat.
“He played much better this year than he did last year, I think he’s definitely going to get himself drafted.” said Bleacher Report analyst Jonathan Wasserman.
Bowen’s efforts were light years ahead of the performance he delivered in his first combine showing last year where he appeared out of place on the court and uncomfortable off it. Bowen’s poor performance last year was likely a huge factor in him deciding to play in Australia at all.
Although somewhat understandable at the time, after all, he hadn’t played competitive basketball in a year, it resulted in one NBA scout telling Yahoo Sports Bowen was nowhere near an NBA player.
“He’s in no man’s land. He may not be good enough to play in the G League right now.”
He didn’t look overwhelmed in Chicago this year, the same scout who declared he was in “no man’s land” noting that after a year in Australia Bowen is a genuine NBA talent.
“He’ll definitely get drafted,” the scout went said, noting that almost every NBA team had likely trekked down under to see him this year.
After letting his much developed game do the talking, Bowen let reporters know how last years comments were motivation for him during his time with the Kings.
“I remember your article saying I didn’t belong out there, that was on my wall in Australia. I put that up there. I put that quote — ‘He doesn’t belong out there.’ [There’s a] lot of people I want to prove wrong, and you’re just one of those guys I want to prove wrong. I feel a lot better about myself.” Bowen told reporters.
The NBA interest in Bowen was echoed on the latest episode of the Aussie Hoopla podcast where it was outlined that 15 NBA teams had flown to Australia to see Bowen play and in the days prior to the combine teams had been reaching out to the men responsible for recruiting and developing Bowen in the NBL, Andrew Gaze and Jeff Van Groningen.
The former Sydney Kings coach and General Manager had fielded questions from 26 of the leagues 30 NBA teams who were all asking for detailed information on the Bowen both on and off the court in multiple hour long phone calls.
The 20-year-old has clearly bounced back from the scandal that prevented him from playing college basketball. Seven months ago, his father, Brian Sr., testified that he agreed to a $100,000 pay-for-play scheme with Adidas in exchange for a commitment by his son to play at Louisville.
The case led to Bowen being suspended by Louisville as well as Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino being fired. Bowen briefly transferred to South Carolina and was set to play there before the NCAA decided they would not allow him to play in the upcoming season, it was then he began looking at other playing options, ultimately becoming the first ever participant in the NBL’s Next Stars program.
“I’m a lot stronger mentally than I thought I was,” Bowen said this week at the combine.
“For all the stuff I’ve been through, I’ve pushed through it and I know I can overcome a lot of things. I have to look at it like taking it day by day and realise there are people in situations that are way worse than mine as far as life. I’m just out here trying to play basketball.”
When asked about playing in Australia Bowen noted it hadn’t just helped him become NBA ready, but the NBL had become a legitimate pipeline for players looking for alternative ways to reach the best league in the world.
“it’s a smaller league, like, only eight teams and you play each team four times so guys get to know each other, guys get to know your moves.
It makes you have to think game by game and it makes you get better. It work for Terrance Ferguson and it worked out for a few other guys as well.
Bowen, who is the nephew of former NBA dunk comp winner Jason Richardson, played sparingly for the Kings, averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game, but by seasons end had become a vital cog in the Kings rotation.
With the second round seeming to be the safe prediction for Bowen, it would make sense for NBA teams like Philadelphia and Brooklyn who both have multiple picks in the second round, a clear gap at the small forward position and strong ties to both the NBL and the Sydney Kings to have the strongest interest in the young talent.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown, a former coach of the Sydney Kings could draft Bowen with the 33rd or 34th pick and Brooklyn Nets, who developed the new head coach of the Sydney Kings, Will Weaver, have the 32nd pick.
As discussed on the Aussie Hoopla podcast, although Bowen seems a lock to be drafted into the NBA, he may remain a Sydney King for the 2019-20 NBL season.
Interestingly despite high draft interest, NBL fans may not have seen the last of Bowen either, with him still having one year remaining on his Next Stars deal. How this impacts Bowen will be interesting as any NBA team who drafts will be required to pay out his contract in order to see him join the league this season.
With many second round NBA draft picks being stashed overseas to develop by NBA teams a second year in the purple and gold under Will Weaver who was previously the head coach of the Long Island Nets in the G-League could facilitate the exact environment an NBA team would want for Bowen if they decided to stash him overseas for a season.
“I’ve improved my all-around game that’s what I want to show. Being able to shoot the ball from an NBA range now and everything, just feeling a lot more confident with my ball handling.” Bowen told reporters at the combine.
An interesting side note which was outlined on the Aussie Hoopla podcast was how despite the buzz around Bowen’s play, the Next Stars program could result in Bowen being selected much later than he deserves due to any NBA who drafts him being required to buy out his Next Stars contract.
“We have to realise the NBL isn’t running a next stars program out of the goodness of it’s heart, they are hoping to use this as a way of generating additional revenue and with the NBL likely paying $150-$200 thousand to have him here and the Kings spending $50,000 on accommodation and flights for Bowen and his family they are expecting to be compensated for their investment” Dan Boyce said on the Aussie Hoopla podcast.
Although NBA rules only allow teams to spend $600,000 on buying out a player from overseas contracts, team’s are going to factor in that number when drafting Bowen. This presents a situation where NBA teams looking at Bowen and comparing him to similar talent who don’t have a contract needing a buy out may disregard Bowen, causing him to be selected much later that he potentially deserves.
“Although it’s unknown what the NBL would ask as a buy out figure for Bowen’s release, remember the NBA doesn’t rule the world, and contracts are contracts so the NBL has to be happy with the amount they receive for breaking Bowens contract” Boyce added
What has happened in the past is international players often choose to buy out their contracts with their own money to ensure their draft selection isn’t compromised. It’s a huge risk however with players hoping they earn an NBA contract which allows them to repay the money they’ve loaned to cover their buy-out.
The sweet shooter from Saginaw, Michigan, affectionately known as “Tugs” overall was thankful his past had been able to lead to this moment and grateful for his time in Australia, having full confidence he would realise his NBA dream the second time around.
“It’s just my confidence, man, it’s at an all-time high,” he said. “There’s nothing that anyone can say to really break me. I’ve been through the worst time in my life, honestly. Going through that, there’s nothing that can faze me.”
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
