NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Brooklyn Nets history: Sam Bowie

Left and right tibia fractures

Sam Bowie may be best remembered as the player that was taken by the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of Michael Jordan, but despite an injury-ridden career, Bowie managed to turn things around on the back end of his career.

He was taken second overall by the Trail Blazers in the 1984 NBA Draft, but his impact was most felt with the New Jersey Nets before they were Brooklyn.

Bowie was hit with the injury bug in 1986-87, missing all but five contests during the season. He missed the entire 1987-88 season with fractures in both his legs after three promising seasons with the Trail Blazers. He returned in 1988-89 for 20 games with Portland but was traded in the offseason to the Nets.

He got back to his high level of play immediately with New Jersey, averaging 14.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest in 68 appearances during the 1989-90 season, showing flashes of his early potential.

Bowie produced a career-high 35 double-doubles and his first 20-rebound game since his rookie season. He put up a career-high 38 points during the 1990-91 season against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 118-111 victory back on March 20, 1991.

In his best season statistically, he averaged 15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game during the 1991-92 season, starting in a career-high 65 games. He accumulated 86 double-doubles as a member of the Nets from 1989-93, showing signs he was back from his brutal injury.

His run with the Nets was short-lived, as he was traded during the 1993 offseason to the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired from the Lakers in September 1995.