Sam Bowie

Center, #31

• Born March 17, 1961
• Attended Kentucky
• Coached by Bill Bertka, Del Harris, Magic Johnson, Randy Pfund

The No. 2 overall selection in the 1984 draft (one pick ahead of Michael Jordan), Bowie played his last two professional seasons with the Lakers from 1993 to 1995. The 7-foot-1 center was traded by the New Jersey Nets to the Lakers along with a second-round draft pick for Benoit Benjamin after the 1992-93 season. Bowie started in 17 of 92 games with the Lakers and primarily backed up Vlade Divac and Elden Campbell. Injuries plagued him throughout his stint with the Lakers. He retired in September 1995.