The only player in NBA history to win a championship on his birthday
Now I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to bet Bruce Bowen was one of the happiest people alive on June 14, 2007.
The obvious reason for it is the Spurs completing a sweep in the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the organization's fourth NBA championship -- Bowen's third. But the other reason is it happened on his 36th birthday, making him the only player in NBA history to win an NBA title on the day he was born.
The Spurs forward was very close to achieving this in '03, but the series-deciding Game 6 against the Nets fell on June 15 - one day after his 32nd birthday. Here's the list of guys who were also days away from joining Bowen in the NBA's double cause for celebration club, courtesy of Reddit user u/RikeRice:
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TEAM | PLAYER | BIRTHDATE | CHAMPIONSHIP DATE |
Spurs | Jerome Kersey | Tuesday, June 26, '62 | Friday, June 25, '99 |
Bulls | Jason Caffey | Tuesday, June 12, '73 | Friday, June 13, '97 |
Rockets | Žan Tabak | Monday, June 15, '70 | Wednesday, June 14, '95 |
Bulls | Chuck Nevitt | Saturday, June 13, '59 | Sunday, June 14, '92 |
Celtics | Johnny McCarthy | Wednesday, April 25, '34 | Sunday, April 26, '64 |
Potential Game 7 of the 20/21 NBA Finals is scheduled for July 22. With how the series is usually played out, its first potential elimination game will be scheduled for around July 13. Here's the list of guys born within the 9-day span: Derrick Favors, Damian Lillard, Troy Daniels, Tobias Harris, Mike Scott, OG Anunoby, Bam Adebayo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Lamarcus Aldridge, Steven Adams, Ben Simmons.
If any of these guys is to make it into the NBA Finals, they'll have the opportunity to join Bruce Bowen and receive the best birthday gift NBA player can hope for.
