He’s made headlines and highlights on and off the court since his arrival with Rob Paternostro’s Leicester Riders in 2022 but young British guard Blake Bowman is gearing up for his biggest season yet with the Midlands club as the inaugural Super League Basketball season approaches.
Whether it’s dunking on opponents on the court or dunking atop The O2 in London, Bowman has had many moments throughout his rookie and sophomore campaigns with the Riders, but talked about why he feels like year three could be the best yet.
“I feel like this year is a big opportunity for me. My expectations are high after the progress I’ve shown over the summer and I’m hopeful that I’ll get the opportunity to show what I can do and positively impact winning for this team.
“My biggest progression has been understanding the nuances of the game a little more and the mental side of basketball. I came into the Riders as somebody who was known for being athletic, quick, explosive and so on and I’ve shown those qualities, but my biggest growth has been on the mental side.
“A big focus this year is changing that perception that I’m just an athletic guy that can run the floor and make highlights, because I do have that more technical, mental side to my game and I feel like this year I’ll be in a good position to show that side of my personality on the court.”
It’s all in the hips
What has been a rapid ascent for Bowman through the ranks of the Derby Trailblazers’ academy to the roster of the mighty Leicester Riders was almost over before it began, as the now 6’6” wing unexpectedly required major surgery at 13 years old for an unlikely injury.
The Great Britain 3×3 international discussed the issues which were affecting his hip, and why the experience cemented his love for basketball as he returned from injury to pursue an ambition of turning professional.
“It was a freak injury, and to this day I don’t know what caused it. Not many 13-year-olds fracture their hip, not least without any significant impact like in my case – there was no big accident or anything, it just seemed to fracture over time.
“I had a lot of pain in my hip for a few months and kept visiting doctors who put it down to growing pains, because I’d had issues with my knees as well and was tall for my age so I kept playing regardless, but the pain got to a point where I couldn’t get out of bed so I was sent for an x-ray and was told the same day that I’d fractured my hip, which was a shock.
“I had surgery and had to stay in bed for months whilst I recovered. I played a lot of different sports before the injury but after surgery all I could think about was wanting to be back on a basketball court. I missed the energy of it, my teammates, and how inspired I felt when I played, so when I was back on my feet I started playing again and never looked back.”
Masterful mentors
At 22 years old, Bowman is the second generation of his family to sample the topflight of British Basketball, after his father and uncle both played at this level in years gone by. His uncle, Marc Hawley, played for the Riders as well from 1997 to 1999.
Crediting both for helping develop his game in different ways, Bowman also listed three players in particular who have helped him on the court as he’s developed into one of the most exciting young British prospects in recent years.
“I’ve been blessed to have some fantastic mentors throughout my career and it is difficult to single a couple of people out, but the two that stand out during my time in Leicester are Mo Walker and Conner Washington. I’ve been so grateful that they’ve shared all the years of experience they have with a young guy like me who is trying to learn the game and grow.
“Back in my days with Derby there was also Charlie Brown, who helped me see a different side of the game and what a point guard needs from a guy in my position, how to set screens a certain way and the importance of little details. The biggest thing I’ve learnt from all these guys is to be patient and not fall into the trap of rushing every time I get the ball.
“That’s been a really important lesson for me because of my athleticism to just learn to pick my moments and use the time we have on the clock to make the best reads and decisions for the team, rather than just taking the first opportunity that is put in front of you, and I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better at that thanks to the mentors I’ve had around me.”
Making a name in the NBL
Emerging in the topflight as a 19-year-old, there was plenty of hype around Bowman’s signing for the Riders when it was confirmed he’d be stepping up from Basketball England’s NBL to the most successful British basketball team of the previous decade.
Bowman is one of several who has successfully made the jump from NBL to the topflight, including former Cheshire Phoenix star and new London Lion Aaryn Rai who notably did the same last year and was a firm MVP candidate for Ben Thomas’ side.
Bowman discussed his mentality making the step up from the lower division and why he is proud of the way he and others have taken their opportunities to transition to the elite professional level either in the UK or abroad.
“Looking back now I’m surprised I didn’t feel any pressure, but at the time I was 19 and had come off a great season with Derby so I felt ready to step up to the top league. I’d played against teams at this level for Derby and had good performances and helped the team perform well so I knew I could compete and was just eager for the chance to show that more often.
“There are great players in the NBL and a lot of them have made the step up to this level or even headed to Europe to play at a high level over the last few years. I’m proud to be a part of that history and to be seen as a product of that system and I’m always going to fly the flag for it because the clubs there do great work in developing talent for the future.
“I’ve enjoyed my two years here so far and for year three my focus is just to continue growing. Everybody wants to play more and I’m no different – if I could play every minute then I would – but that’s not how this game goes. Whether I’m first on the court or last off the bench, I’m ready to come in and give it my all and contribute to winning for the Leicester Riders.”