Detroit Pistons: Jeff Bower Appointed As General Manager

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Mar 15, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Basketball on the court during the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Background

Bower is what you often hear termed as a basketball “lifer.” Since his first job as an assistant coach at Penn State as a 22-year-old back in 1983, Bower has worked pretty consistently in both the college and professional ranks of the game.

Bower and Van Gundy go back a long way due to SVG’s own time spent as a college assistant in the ’80s too. Where Van Gundy went the coaching route upon entering the NBA, Bower seemed to be more drawn to the executive roles.

Mostly as GM, but also taking on a spell as an interim head coach, Bower spent 14 years with the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets. During that time Bower proved his abilities to develop an NBA franchise, as well as dealing with some of the toughest circumstances that any GM has ever encountered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Since leaving New Orleans, Bower returned to his roots to be the head coach at Marist College. Then after one year at the helm of the Red Foxes, the Pistons came calling.

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