Matt Bonner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Matt Bonner signing autographs at the Air Canada Centre, 2005.
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| Position | Forward |
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| Height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Weight | 249 lb (113 kg) |
| Team | San Antonio Spurs |
| Jersey | #15 |
| Born | April 5, 1980 Concord, New Hampshire |
| Nationality | American |
| College | Florida |
| Draft | 2nd round, 45th overall, 2003 Chicago Bulls |
| Pro career | 2003–present |
| Former teams | Sicilia Messina (2003–2004) Toronto Raptors (2004–2006) |
Matthew (Matt) Robert Bonner (born April 5, 1980 in Concord, New Hampshire) is an American professional basketball player currently with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.
Standing 6'10" at 240 lb, Bonner was drafted out of the University of Florida by the Chicago Bulls in the 2nd round of the 2003 NBA Draft and then traded to the Toronto Raptors. While playing for the Florida Gators, Bonner amassed 1,570 points 778 rebounds and 165 three pointers and finished his career ranked in the top 10 in six categories. Bonner graduated from Florida with a 3.96 GPA and was named the Verizon Academic All-American of the Year for the sport of basketball in both 2002 and 2003.[1][2]
Toronto recognized the future potential in Bonner but did not have a roster position available. Bonner was asked to spend a year in Europe honing his skills with a verbal promise to give him a shot at making the team in 2004.
After signing with Sicilia Messina of the Italian league based in Messina, Sicily, 2003 proved to be a harrowing year for Bonner. Bonner survived a 104.5 degree Fahrenheit fever brought on by a bout of salmonella (treated by the team dentist) most likely caused by a lack of running hot water in his apartment. Sicilia had filed for bankruptcy in the middle of the season and had stopped paying its players. Bonner's heat and electricity were shut off and he was given two eviction notices. Despite half the team leaving, Bonner stuck it out and finished the year averaging 19.2 points and 9.3 rebounds.[3]
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[edit] High school career
Matt Bonner attended Concord High School in his home town. He played for the Concord High School basketball team, helping bring them to and then win several state championships. Due to the strong support by his parents, Mr. Bonner, a postman, and Mrs. Bonner, an elementary school teacher in Concord, he would also graduate top of his class in academics.[4]
[edit] NBA career
Bonner signed with the Raptors during the 2004-05 NBA season, averaging 7.2 points per game whilst playing all 82 contests. Matt received the nickname "Red Rocket" during the same season due to the fact that he has red hair and was constantly sighted on the public transit in Toronto, the TTC, whose streetcars are red and slogan is 'Ride the Rocket'.
Matt Bonner's first prominent moment as a Raptor occurred on December of 2004 during an exciting game at the Air Canada Centre. Extending for a rebound, he knocked all-star Kevin Garnett from behind, sending him sprawling to the ground prompting the two players to get into a heated exchange. The crowd chanted "Bonner, Bonner" as he was ejected from the game. This immediately established Matt as a fan favourite with Raptors fans rallying behind Bonner.
In the 2005-06 season Bonner played 78 games averaging 7.5 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and shot 44.8% from the field. He ranked 14th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage, and was one of the first players the Raptors looked to for three-point shots.
On June 21, 2006, Bonner was traded with Eric Williams and a second round pick in the 2006 NBA Draft to the San Antonio Spurs for Radoslav Nesterovic and cash considerations.
While with the Spurs in the 2006-07 season, Bonner played in 56 games averaging 4.9 points per game in 11.7 minutes per game. The team went on to win the NBA Championship and Bonner received his championship ring in a ceremony on October 30, 2007 prior to a game, that they won, against the Portland Trail Blazers.
On December 11, 2007, Bonner registered career highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. [5]
[edit] Personal
Bonner received only one B in his scholastic career after bombing a chemistry exam in late 2002.[6] Among Bonner's favorite food is a Mr. Sub smoked turkey breast submarine sandwich with mayo and mustard on whole wheat.[7] Bonner bought his car, a white Pontiac Grand Prix, in New Hampshire to avoid paying sales tax.[8] He chose it because it had good leg room and decent gas mileage.[8]
[edit] Awards
- 2002-03 Honorable Mention All-American
- 2002-03 Verizon Academic All-American of the Year
- 2002-03 All-SEC First Team by Associated Press
- 2002-03 All-SEC First Team by Coaches
- 2002-03 SEC Leader In Three-Point Shooting Percentage(.474)
- 2002-03 All-SEC Academic pick
- 2001-02 Honorable Mention All-American
- 2001-02 Verizon Academic All-American of the Year
- 2001-02 All-SEC Second Team
- 2001-02 All-SEC Academic pick
- 2000-01 All-SEC Third Team
- 2000-01 All-SEC Academic pick
- 1999-00 NHIAA Champions - Concord HS
- 1998-99 NHIAA Champions - Concord HS
- 1997-98 NHIAA Champions - Concord HS
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/media/2003/pdf/96.pdfPDF (128 KiB)
- ^ Gator Men's Basketball Roster/Bios @ Gatorzone.com
- ^ alligatorSports.org at The Independent Florida Alligator Online
- ^ Matt Bonner, NewHampshire.com. Accessed November 28, 2007.
- ^ NBA - San Antonio Spurs/Golden State Warriors Box Score Tuesday December 11, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports
- ^ Man with a plan: Gators forward Matt Bonner has found paradise in a work-'til-you-drop routine that allows little room for fun and even less for errors - College Basketball Insider | Sporting News, The | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2005/09/c2103.html
- ^ a b MySA.com: MySanAntonio.com: Spurs
[edit] External links
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