Chu: Spurs' Bonner Sees Himself As 'Boring Guy'

[duncan228]

Spurs' Bonner sees himself as 'boring guy' (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Bonner_sees_himself_as_boring_guy.html)
By Bryan Chu - Express-News

Matt Bonner isn't likely to win a most valuable player award during his career.

Nor is he likely to make an Olympic team or grace the cover of a video game. It doesn't look like the paparazzi will be bombarding Bonner either.

But that is all right with the fifth-year forward, who doesn't fit the mold of a typical NBA player.

“I tell people I'm a minor celebrity in three places on the planet: San Antonio, New Hampshire and Toronto,” said Bonner, who is New Hampshire's second NBA player after Jeff Cross. “And by minor, I mean minor. Most people that recognize me don't care.”

Last month, Bonner had a charity tournament at Canyon Springs golf club. He shook several dozen hands and smiled just as many times for pictures.

“That always cracks me up,” Bonner said. “Why would you want to have your picture with me when I'm just like everyone else? I'll never get used to that.”

Bonner isn't the most popular Spurs player, but is important to the team, especially given injuries to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who returned to action Monday night.

Though he fell out of the rotation earlier this season (he averaged 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 11.3 minutes of action per game, including back-to-back games where he did not play), the past six games have been different. Off the bench, Bonner has averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game.

“He's a guy that continues to work at the craft and is willing to learn,” Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. “He's definitely shown he's improved, and we'll keep looking for that.”

There is little flash in Bonner's game, which carries into his personal life.

Bonner is a self-proclaimed “boring guy” who likes staying at home and reading. He's into Indie Rock. Things he's revealed on his bio: He's never had a cavity and he has a bad habit of twisting his hair.

He drives a 2006 white Pontiac Grand Prix; in college he had a hand-me-down 1999 Hyundai while playing at Florida, where he had a 3.96 GPA in business administration.

“They are jealous” of his ride, Bonner, 28, said of his teammates. “They know I can take any one of them off the line.”

Despite making $2.978 million this year and $3.256 next year, Bonner remains frugal. Former Spurs guard Brent Barry, who is now with the Houston Rockets, remembers a time in Sacramento when Bonner was getting a snack at his favorite spot: Subway.

“Matt had a coupon for half off a sandwich, which said: ‘Valid at participating stores only,'” Barry said. “The owner said we're not ‘participating stores' and Matt was like ‘Well aren't you a Subway? I walk outside and I see the name ‘Subway.'” After 10 minutes, he talked his way to half off a turkey sandwich. He saved like $2.16.”

Added Bowen: “It's not about what you make, it's about what you keep. He understands that motto perfectly.”

His penchant for being economical came to the forefront in his first year in the NBA with the Raptors in 2004. He earned the nickname “Red Rocket” for being a fan of riding Toronto's red streetcars, which had the slogan “Ride the Rocket.”

A big part of Bonner's career has been giving back.

In his hometown of Concord, Bonner has his own charity, Sneakers –N– Speakers, a basketball clinic that gives its proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He and his wife, Nadia, are regular volunteers for “Basketball without Borders,” an NBA summer camp for youths across the world.

“I feel like I have not so much a responsibility, but an opportunity to really have a positive influence and effect on kids' lives,” Bonner said.

Many people don't know this, but Bonner's brand is slowly developing.

While the majority of NBA players wear Nike, Adidas or Reebok basketball shoes, Bonner sports black ones from New Balance, a company known more for its running shoes than hightops. Only a handful of guys in the NBA wear them, said Bonner, who convinced teammate Anthony Tolliver to switch over.

Bonner signed a contract with New Balance, and he'll have his own shoe coming out: the Matt Bonner limited edition New Hampshire basketball shoes. They'll have the Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation that became an icon in New Hampshire, on the tongue, and it will say “Live Free or Die” — the state motto — on the back.

“They're going to be a hot item,” Bonner said.

Matt Bonner's Keys to Frugality

Tip No. 5: I eat a lot of sandwiches and I always get my "sandwich club cards" stamped so I can cash them out when they're full.

Tip No. 4: I take advantage of free stuff. For example, I'm with the New Balance this year so I live in my old school gray 574s which I get for free.

Tip No. 3: I don't drive a wicked expensive car. I still claim my Pontiac Grand Prix can take any of Tim Duncan's cars ... well maybe not all of them.

Tip No. 2: Buy in bulk ... If the toilet paper, soap and laundry detergent industries go on a strike we should be all set for years.

Tip No. 1: Make sure any catalogs in the mail go straight to the trash can before my wife can get her hands on them.

[anakha]

Matt Bonner has a shoe contract.

*goes outside to look for flying pigs...

[barbacoataco]

Bonner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[honestfool84]

this only makes me love bonner more.

not that i ever hated him..

[raspsa]

Every team needs its quirky character or two.. Now that Barry's gone, Bonner fills that role for the Spurs.

[mystargtr34]

I feel bad for trashing him the last 2 years.

[mrspurs]

I wish he was telling his sad story on some other team. His giant body doesnt help out our giant bodys one bit. He has the body of 4 or 5, but plays like 2 or 3. I do hope he continues to play good. Thats the only way we can trade him. And Im pretty sure thats what lies ahead for him. I just dont see Bonner in the spurs future. Not when its a big body we need to rebound and block shots. To this day even thou he can hit that 3, he is lost out there when it comes to playing team defense.

[ShoogarBear]

Congrats on the column, Johnny Blaze!

[Whisky Dog]

If Bonner had a little more edge to him and wasn't so "boring" he'd be a much better player. Get some fucking confidence.

[MoSpur]

Congrats on the column, Johnny Blaze!

:lmao

[SenorSpur]

Matt Bonner has a shoe contract.

*goes outside to look for flying pigs...

......and hell has officially frozen over.

[SenorSpur]

I wish he was telling his sad story on some other team. His giant body doesnt help out our giant bodys one bit. He has the body of 4 or 5, but plays like 2 or 3. I do hope he continues to play good. Thats the only way we can trade him. And Im pretty sure thats what lies ahead for him. I just dont see Bonner in the spurs future. Not when its a big body we need to rebound and block shots. To this day even thou he can hit that 3, he is lost out there when it comes to playing team defense.

Because they are both "shooting bigs", it will be interesting to see the season-long battle for playing time between he and Tolliver.

[SpursFanFirst]

“They are jealous” of his ride, Bonner, 28, said of his teammates. “They know I can take any one of them off the line.”

I don't care what anyone says - Bonner freakin' rocks!

Oh, and that Subway story kicks ass! I'm gonna have to try that, since I practically live at Subway.

[z0sa]

If Bonner had a little more edge to him and wasn't so "boring" he'd be a much better player. Get some fucking confidence.

You're retarded. Tim Duncan is self-proclaimed 'boring' in this same way. Does he lack confidence?

If you glanced past your hate for the best big this season outside of Timmy D, you'd see he's already a very good player and has ZERO confidence issues. You can't be a knockdown three point shooter having confidence issues, but you and Mrs Purse (who I really wish would just GTFO, no one respects her opinions nor her because they're equally as stupid as your above post) will continue hating on someone who is completely undeserving of it.

I also see "The Profesor" reading, what happened to Bonner only having one good game, asshole? Oh, now it'll be a stretch of good games when the Spurs need you most isn't enough?

[mVp]

LOL @ Bonner getting his own shoes.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Bonner's clearly a good guy.




I'll miss that about him.

[tomtom]

Haha sounds like a quirky guy. Also LOL @ Matt Bonner Shoes

[Slomo]

Congrats on the column, Johnny Blaze!

:lmao

[koriwhat]

You're retarded. Tim Duncan is self-proclaimed 'boring' in this same way. Does he lack confidence?

If you glanced past your hate for the best big this season outside of Timmy D, you'd see he's already a very good player and has ZERO confidence issues. You can't be a knockdown three point shooter having confidence issues, but you and Mrs Purse (who I really wish would just GTFO, no one respects her opinions nor her because they're equally as stupid as your above post) will continue hating on someone who is completely undeserving of it.

I also see "The Profesor" reading, what happened to Bonner only having one good game, asshole? Oh, now it'll be a stretch of good games when the Spurs need you most isn't enough?

hahaha. z0sa you're one of the few i agree with pretty much on everything here on ST. :toast

[z0sa]

hahaha. z0sa you're one of the few i agree with pretty much on everything here on ST. :toast

Yeah, I've noticed we get along pretty well. :toast

[WildcardManu]

I wish he was telling his sad story on some other team. His giant body doesnt help out our giant bodys one bit. He has the body of 4 or 5, but plays like 2 or 3. I do hope he continues to play good. Thats the only way we can trade him. And Im pretty sure thats what lies ahead for him. I just dont see Bonner in the spurs future. Not when its a big body we need to rebound and block shots. To this day even thou he can hit that 3, he is lost out there when it comes to playing team defense.

This just in, you've been traded to spursreport for someone who posts less than you do.

[Whisky Dog]

You're retarded. Tim Duncan is self-proclaimed 'boring' in this same way. Does he lack confidence?

If you glanced past your hate for the best big this season outside of Timmy D, you'd see he's already a very good player and has ZERO confidence issues. You can't be a knockdown three point shooter having confidence issues, but you and Mrs Purse (who I really wish would just GTFO, no one respects her opinions nor her because they're equally as stupid as your above post) will continue hating on someone who is completely undeserving of it.

I also see "The Profesor" reading, what happened to Bonner only having one good game, asshole? Oh, now it'll be a stretch of good games when the Spurs need you most isn't enough?

You're an emotional little fuck, aren't you? I don't hate Bonner. He's had a nice run of games and I hope that continues, but the fact is he's underacheived up to this point and has looked shaky with zero confidence at times. Maybe if he'd put a little effort into not being boring and being exeptional instead he'd have been contributing more than only the last 5 or 6 games.

[z0sa]

You're an emotional little fuck, aren't you?

calling me a "little fuck" doesn't change how ignorant your statement was. In actuality I respect you as a poster and consider you generally knowledgeable, but this was one where its clear you just don't like the guy.

I gladly admit I am emotional about many things in life, including coming to Matt Bonner's defense when he is unrightfully ridiculed by poster after poster. Especially for being "boring," when the reason we have four championships is one damn "boringass" player named Tim Duncan.


I don't hate Bonner. He's had a nice run of games and I hope that continues, but the fact is he's underacheived up to this point and has looked shaky with zero confidence at times. Maybe if he'd put a little effort into not being boring and being exeptional instead he'd have been contributing more than only the last 5 or 6 games.

Has no one noticed that once he got some consistent PT and a few shots to fall, he immediately became our second best big? Pop relegating him to the bench for long stretches of games when he's rusty and missing rotations wasn't the right move. I always said (search if you want) that with PT, his rotations would be improved. Whaddaya know? We get hit with injuries and flat play by the other bigs, he gets a chance, and now he's doing better than ever, ESPECIALLY on defense. Timvp has even said his speed AND strength on D has been something special since he got out of Pop's early doghouse session.

His stroke is looking better than ever, as well. All I ask is you understand WHY he was inconsistent, which had very little to do with his abilities and instead, with Pop's hardnosed doghousing.

[DROB4EVER]

Ahhhh! I wish he could see himself the way spurs fans see him......A very bad defender with short arms who gets out rebounded by dwarfs!

[z0sa]

Ahhhh! I wish he could see himself the way spurs fans see him......A very bad defender with short arms who gets out rebounded by dwarfs!

sigh... I give up.

[Mad Bonner]

Damn z0sa! If I didn't know any better I would think that I was you and you was me.

[Whisky Dog]

calling me a "little fuck" doesn't change how ignorant your statement was. In actuality I respect you as a poster and consider you generally knowledgeable, but this was one where its clear you just don't like the guy.

I gladly admit I am emotional about many things in life, including coming to Matt Bonner's defense when he is unrightfully ridiculed by poster after poster. Especially for being "boring," when the reason we have four championships is one damn "boringass" player named Tim Duncan.



Has no one noticed that once he got some consistent PT and a few shots to fall, he immediately became our second best big? Pop relegating him to the bench for long stretches of games when he's rusty and missing rotations wasn't the right move. I always said (search if you want) that with PT, his rotations would be improved. Whaddaya know? We get hit with injuries and flat play by the other bigs, he gets a chance, and now he's doing better than ever, ESPECIALLY on defense. Timvp has even said his speed AND strength on D has been something special since he got out of Pop's early doghouse session.

His stroke is looking better than ever, as well. All I ask is you understand WHY he was inconsistent, which had very little to do with his abilities and instead, with Pop's hardnosed doghousing.

I've got nothing against you, but you started with the hostilities so I replied in kind.

There's always going to be a multitude of opinions on something as subjective as this, but I think he is just now starting to get confident in the system in his 3rd year. To me the fact it took that long reflects on his lack of personal self confidence. There was a reason he landed in Pop's doghouse, and this isn't the 1st time he's had some PT in his Spurs career. Either way, I hope he stays consistent where he is at and contributed to the team over the course of the season and playoffs.

[Whisky Dog]

Tim Duncan plays into the boring label the media gives him, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't view himself that way. He knows he's exceptional and has the confidence that comes along with that. Bonner has looked like a scared puppy many times until this recent stretch. Big difference.

[benefactor]

Prediction: Bonner will continue to play well and will be traded with Udoka just before the deadline for a big who rebounds and blocks shots. This will happen because Mahinmi will fail to deliver. Hairston will be kicking ass in the on the Toros and will be brought up to replace Udoka.

Book it.

[mrspurs]

Because they are both "shooting bigs", it will be interesting to see the season-long battle for playing time between he and Tolliver.

Im gonna root for the one who costs us less like the FO does. So lets go AT. Ive already seen what Bonner brings to the table. Hes great when we play sorry teams or we're behind and need desperate points. But as a team defender his feet stay glued to the court. And that doesnt help anyone out. Mostly the big man under the rim name Timmy. Whats crazy is Matt is outplaying Fab and Kurt and alot of people want to trade him. All in all a pretty big mess with the bigs on this roster. Exactly why Pop doesnt have a solid role for a center yet. You gotta have a center in order to make a role for him to play. Sooner or later it will happen. I just dont believe our FO is happy with our current centers play. These guys produce a handful of rebounds with less then a handful of points between the both of them.(fab and kurt). Unexceptable.

[mrspurs]

And for the playbabies who cuss back and forth at each other on the internet. Get a life...hahahahahaha. Talk about road rage, this is keyboard rage. Where do you honk the horn at?

[T Park]

I wish he was telling his sad story on some other team. His giant body doesnt help out our giant bodys one bit. He has the body of 4 or 5, but plays like 2 or 3. I do hope he continues to play good. Thats the only way we can trade him. And Im pretty sure thats what lies ahead for him. I just dont see Bonner in the spurs future. Not when its a big body we need to rebound and block shots. To this day even thou he can hit that 3, he is lost out there when it comes to playing team defense.


Pretty much apparent you haven't watched a game this year one bit.

[The Truth #6]

It would have been better if Bonner had finally turned the corner earlier but he never really was given much trust by the coaches. A lot of that is on him for screwing up the chances he was given, but at the same time he always had Horry looking over his shoulder, who didn't seem to do much mentoring. And that the FO was grooming Bonner to be the next Horry did not seem to help the situation.

Yes, I do think Bonner has had confidence issues but that isn't something particular to him. A lot of role players have confidence issues because they're never sure when they're going to get to play. He just needed to be put in a situation that made him feel comfortable. I guess this was it.

With the way Bonner is now playing I'm not hearing too many people calling for Horry to come out of retirement. Nothing against Horry but he made the right choice and Bonner and the team are better for it.

[z0sa]

Pretty much apparent you haven't watched a game this year one bit.

Apparently he doesn't understand the entire reason he's gotten PT in the first place, which was managing to stay out of Pop's doghouse just long enough to nail some key 3's and improve his rotations.

Also, to say his feet have been glued to the floor is just ridiculous. Do you even watch the games Purse?

[WildcardManu]

Apparently he doesn't understand the entire reason he's gotten PT in the first place, which was managing to stay out of Pop's doghouse just long enough to nail some key 3's and improve his rotations.

Also, to say his feet have been glued to the floor is just ridiculous. Do you even watch the games Purse?

I don't know if we're watching the same bonner play, but the one i've seen play recently has been playing pretty decent next to tim.

[z0sa]

I don't know if we're watching the same bonner play, but the one i've seen play recently has been playing pretty decent next to tim.

Ya know, Bonner hasn't been anywhere perfect in his career here, but Pop's blind trust in Horry and his benching of Bonner for correctable mistakes is what I have a problem with. Bonner isn't going to ever block 3 shots a night or score 20+ consistently, but he can do many things to help the Spurs.

he's just a roleplayer, but he fits in a niche that could really help us Win. And isn't that what matters?

[SpurSupremacist]

I know you all didn't see Bonner split 2 defenders with the dribble the other night.

[anakha]

And for the playbabies who cuss back and forth at each other on the internet. Get a life...hahahahahaha. Talk about road rage, this is keyboard rage. Where do you honk the horn at?

Holier-than-thou, much?

[Spurtacus]

That was...an interesting read.

[milkyway21]

I enjoy reading the article. Bonner is a funny guy.


I do hope he continues to play good. Thats the only way we can trade him. spending Pop's time & patience to develop his game then trade him to our opponents. What if he turns out to be like Hedo? (Or Rasho?)

I wish you could give him some time to contribute and chance to see if he fits in with this team. From the way I see it lately he's improving and finding how the systems works

Feb is still a long journey for him to prove his worth & to talk about trade.
unless of course you think there's somebody out there who's cheap and plays like DRob at the same time

[Avitus1]

Bonner what a cheap bastard.