Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers have decided not to move forward with analyst Bruce Bowen after he made negative comments about Kawhi Leonard.
Earlier this morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the LA Clippers would not be returning TV Analyst Bruce Bowen after he made critical comments of then-San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard in June.
Per Wojnarowski, Bowen and the Clippers were progressing towards a new contract to keep him on-air before he criticized Leonard.
In June, Bowen said the following in regards to the way Leonard was handling his business with the Spurs organization:
"“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?”“Not one time has Kawhi come out and said anything to the effect of, ‘You know what, hey, I really enjoy being in San Antonio.’ Or, ‘I can’t stand what’s going on here in San Antonio. Not one time has he said anything.”“As a player, if I’m a leader of a team, my team goes on the road in the playoffs, I’m with my guys. Because that’s what it’s all about. It’s about camaraderie. It’s about fellowship. It’s a brotherhood. When that didn’t happen, it’s all kinds of sirens and alarm signals that says to me, ‘Is this person fully vested?’ … I don’t want to take on a player who’s not willing to support his guys during the course of their time needing him.”"
Clearly, Bowen didn’t hold back in his critique of Leonard’s style, and it was enough for the Clippers to regret moving forward with Bowen in the future.
Bowen was only the TV analyst for one season, beginning after the Clippers parted ways with longtime commentator Mike Smith. He and Ralph Lawler had good chemistry, and by season’s end, Bowen was mostly supported by fans of the team.
The move ultimately speaks volumes about how the LA Clippers feel about their chances of nabbing Leonard next summer. The Clippers are projected to have ample cap space to sign him, but this move signals that they may be trying to one-up their competition by making Leonard’s future home a more welcoming environment.
Leonard never responded to Bowen’s comments, at least publicly, but his words do carry a significant impact. Bowen spent eight seasons with the San Antonio Spurs himself, where he became one of the NBA’s most respected defenders. In March 2012, the Spurs retired his No. 12 jersey.
Now, the search is on for a replacement to slide in beside Lawler. The Clippers will likely hire from the inside, as a few personalities made appearances with Lawler last season.
One of those is Don MacLean, who currently works as a Clippers analyst for Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. He’s made numerous appearances on Clippers TV broadcasts, and has the knowledge and chemistry to make things work.
The other is Corey Maggette, a former player for the Los Angeles Clippers, who currently works with MacLean as an analyst for Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. In February, Maggette joined Lawler for the entirety of a game against the Phoenix Suns, as Bowen was out doing charity work with former teammate Tim Duncan. Like MacLean, he has the experience and basketball IQ to bring something special to the table.