Bowen's big break: Becoming the ultimate teammate

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Melbourne United's Kyle Bowen has returned to the NBL following a four-year collegiate career, and is ready to be the ultimate teammate.

Melbourne forward Kyle Bowen’s return to the NBL will see a totally different player hit the court than the one that last appeared four seasons ago.

The 2018-19 season saw a 19-year-old Bowen hit the floor a sum total of four times for the Perth Wildcats. He played twice in the regular season, twice in the Finals, and won a championship ring.

He’s since spent four seasons in Saint Mary’s program alongside a raft of fellow Australian talents. He’s developed from a promising if rangy forward into a bullish, powerful inside presence.

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“I love the physicality of the sport,” Bowen told SEN. “I’m not the flashiest or most gifted offensive player. I’m that selfless guy willing to put his body on the line and love helping out a teammate with a good screen of offensive glass crash.

“Those little plays, I just love helping out my guys.”

Bowen’s burgeoning physicality may be one of the most notable and attractive parts of his game, but he’s not resting on laurels and limiting further aspects of his game.

As Bowen progressed through his time at Saint Mary’s, he progressed the development of his outside shot. In his first season with the Gaels, he shot just 20 per cent from the three-point line. In his fourth and final season in California, he hit 37.9 per cent of his shots from range.

The 22-year-old has identified further shooting improvement as one of his key target areas this season.

“That’s something I’ve definitely been working on,” Bowen said of his shooting. “Being surrounded by guys like Chris Goulding – and even the coaching staff in David Barlow and Rhys Carter – I think I’m surrounded by some of Australia’s top guys in terms of mechanics.

“I think I’m in a good place to keep pushing that jump-shot forward and hopefully be a factor this season and help space the floor.”

Bowen’s first week as a professional basketballer has seen him face some near incomparable opposition.

Along with United stalwarts Chris Goulding and Shea Ili, the returning Matthew Dellavedova, and fellow young stars Ariel Hukporti and Flynn Cameron, the NBA quartet of Josh Giddey, Jock Landale, Jack White and Dyson Daniels spent some time training with the club ahead of the Boomers’ World Cup campaign.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That was some scrimmage ?<br><br>Some special guests dropped in for <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelbUnited</a>'s first day of pre-season ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/mnE8E7kEc6">https://t.co/mnE8E7kEc6</a> <a href="https://t.co/4qrTICLjDm">pic.twitter.com/4qrTICLjDm</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1681556103669358592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“It’s definitely been a big week,” he said. “It’s been a great week with lots of competition. Iron sharpens iron so it’s been a great week.

“I’m being a sponge right now being one of the young guys, and it’s kind of surreal playing against these guys you’ve grown up watching and idolising.

“The way they carry themselves on the court, the relentlessness and professionalism they have, it’s beautiful to watch in person and I’m just trying to do what I can to learn.

“The buzz around the club is in full force.”

Melbourne’s NBL24 season will commence on Thursday, September 28 against South East Melbourne.