Lakers’ Bowie Announces Retirement

The Lakers’ Sam Bowie, who was chosen before Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft, announced Friday that he was retiring after 11 injury-plagued seasons.

Bowie, 34, whose Laker contract expired after last season, said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“It’s something I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time,” Bowie said.

The 7-foot-1 center has been nagged by injuries since his college days at Kentucky. He averaged 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in his NBA career, which began in 1984. He was Portland’s No. 1 draft pick and second overall, after Houston selected Hakeem Olajuwon.