SALT LAKE CITY — When Ky Bowman was a standout two-way football player at Havelock High School in North Carolina, it didn’t matter whether he was playing wide receiver or defensive back. “I’m still going to get a hit,” Bowman said. “I’m going to come across the field and get a hit on somebody.”
Bowman’s hit anyone, anywhere mentality is helping him carve out a role with the Warriors. Hardly an interview goes by without Bowman mentioning his ability to “pick up 94” — referring to his eagerness to defend opponents for the full 94-foot length of an NBA court. This motto is symbolic of the work Bowman has been willing to do every step of the way in order to establish a basketball career.
As a two-way-contract player, Bowman is almost halfway through his allotted 45 days with Golden State. If the Warriors can’t find a way to convert his deal to a 15-man roster spot, Bowman would have to spend the rest of the season with the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.
Even though he’s so far made the most of his opportunity, signing the two-way contract was initially a setback.
A score-first shooting guard at Boston College, Bowman was projected by draft experts as a second-round pick. However, while attending the draft in Brooklyn, N.Y., Bowman watched as the 60th pick was announced and his name was still not called.
“It was upsetting but, at the same time, God has a plan for everybody,” Bowman said of his draft night slide. “So, I mean, I’m here now, so just being able to stick with it.”
An undrafted free agent, Bowman and his agent had been in contact with several teams, including Golden State, New Orleans and Detroit. After spurning a promising football career for a shot to play basketball for a living, he sought a guaranteed contract. They told teams Bowman would not sign a two-way deal.
“That was one of my components when I was going into the draft,” Bowman said. “I wasn’t going to sign a two-way contract.”
But when a 15-man roster spot didn’t materialize, Bowman had to compromise. He got back in touch with the Warriors. Having seen guard Quinn Cook once turn a two-way contract into a roster spot, Bowman trusted the front office and coaching staff’s track record.
Since training camp, Bowman and Warriors coach Steve Kerr have found mutual respect. Kerr praises Bowman’s competitiveness while Bowman appreciates Kerr’s open door policy.
“You’re able to talk to him whenever,” Bowman said. “Just able to help me even though I’m a young guy, but keeping it real with me, telling me what he needs and making sure that I’m fulfilling the role that the team needs me to do.”
With Stephen Curry sidelined for most of the season with a broken hand and D’Angelo Russell in and out of the lineup with various injuries, the Warriors have needed more from Bowman than most teams ask of two-way players. He’s been tasked with facilitating the offense and providing scoring, while also guarding some of the best ball handlers in the league.
Bowman, 22, has started five games this season, scored at least 16 points five times and committed just one turnover in his last 120 minutes played. Opponents defended by Bowman are shooting nearly 2% worse than their average, and he’s come up with at least one steal in each of his last eight games.
Ky Bowman had four steals last night, including this one late to cut the Warriors' deficit to five points.pic.twitter.com/wk6Sm72htj
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) November 23, 2019
Because of the hard cap, the Warriors will not be able to offer him a 15-man roster spot without either waiving the non-guaranteed contract of forward Marquese Chriss (who has played well as of late) or trading one of their minimum salaries into another team’s cap space.
“There’s not a whole lot we can do, our hands our tied,” Kerr said after Friday’s loss to the Utah Jazz, in which Bowman logged 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and zero turnovers in 36 minutes. “All we can do is keep giving him the opportunity this season.
“A guy like Ky Bowman is playing for his career. So for him to get this opportunity and seize it and play well shows the league what he’s about. It’s fantastic. Obviously, I want to keep him. I think we feel really strongly about that.”
As the Warriors rallied from 20 points down in Utah, Bowman met Jazz guard Mike Conley as he crossed halfcourt, jumped the passing lane for a steal and cut the lead to five with a right-handed dunk with less than two minutes left in the game.
Having guarded all-pro ball handlers like Conley, Luka Doncic and James Harden with equal verve, Bowman has shown he belongs within the 94 feet of an NBA floor.
“It’s just a mindset,” Bowman said of defending full-court, “It’s been something to help me stay on the court.”
