Net Worth Ranker
What Is Sam Bowie’s Net Worth?
As of 2024, Sam Bowie’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million. This figure reflects his earnings from a 10-year career in the NBA, as well as any subsequent ventures.
Sam Bowie’s Career Earnings
Sam Bowie’s NBA career, which spanned from 1984 to 1995, saw him accumulate approximately $17.8 million in salary alone. His highest earnings came during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he earned $4.8 million in his final year. Here’s a breakdown of his earnings by team and season:
- Los Angeles Lakers (1994-95): $3.2 million
- Los Angeles Lakers (1993-94): $3.2 million
- New Jersey Nets (1992-93): $2.6 million
- New Jersey Nets (1991-92): $2 million
- New Jersey Nets (1990-91): $2 million
- Portland Trail Blazers (1988-89): $1.1 million
- Portland Trail Blazers (1987-88): $1.1 million
During his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Bowie played in 76 games, averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds. This performance earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team.
Early Life and Career Before the NBA
Samuel Paul Bowie was born on March 17, 1961, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Cathy and Ben Bowie. Ben, standing at 6’10”, played for the Harlem Magicians for six seasons. Sam attended Lebanon High School, where he became a highly recruited basketball prospect. During his high school career, he averaged over 28 points and 18 rebounds per game. He was honored as a McDonald’s All-American and a Parade All-American.
In 1979, he was named National Player of the Year. He then played college basketball at the University of Kentucky, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds as a freshman. In his sophomore season, he increased his numbers to 17.5 points and nine rebounds per game. However, a stress fracture in his left tibia caused him to miss the entire 1981-82 season. He returned the following year and was selected to the Associated Press second-team All-American team. In his senior year, he appeared on the cover of “Sports Illustrated.” In 2002, his No. 31 jersey was retired by the Kentucky Wildcats, and in 2005, he was inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.
NBA Career and Statistics
Sam Bowie was drafted second overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1984 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, recurring leg and foot injuries plagued much of his professional career. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers (1984-1989), the New Jersey Nets (1989-1993), and the Los Angeles Lakers (1993-1995). Over his 10-year NBA career, Bowie averaged 10.9 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. He made 45.2% of his field goal attempts and 30.2% of his three-point attempts.
Specifically, during his time with the New Jersey Nets, Bowie had his most productive seasons, with no major injuries. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and never missed more than 20 games in a season. His best season was his first with the Nets, where he averaged a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. In the 1991–92 season, he hit a career-high in points per game with 15.0 and played a career-high 79 games in 1992–93, averaging 9.1 points per game and seven rebounds.
His career NBA statistics include:
- Points: 5,564 (10.9 ppg)
- Rebounds: 3,845 (7.5 rpg)
- Blocks: 909 (1.8 bpg)
Post-NBA Career
After retiring from basketball, Sam Bowie returned to Lexington, Kentucky. For a time, Bowie performed color commentary for University of Kentucky Basketball. He is involved in harness racing, owning and training horses that run at The Red Mile in Lexington.
Personal Life
Sam married his girlfriend, Stephanie, in April 2018 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. He has been married twice and has three children, now all grown.
