jb4g
09-11-2009, 10:09 AM
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/basketball/2009/09/11/10833176-sun.html
The Red Rocket will be wearing red and white at the world basketball championships next summer.
Canadian men's coach Leo Rautins said former Raptors forward Matt Bonner almost certainly will have his paperwork completed in time to play for Canada at the 2010 worlds in Turkey.
Bonner, who started 67 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season, has taken the necessary steps to acquire Canadian citizenship. He married a Toronto girl and spends much off the off-season in Canada. Rautins said that almost immediately after the Canadian team qualified for the 2010 worlds last week in Puerto Rico, team officials began receiving text messages from Bonner.
"He's jacked. He's completely pumped and waiting to play," Rautins said. "It's going to happen, and we're anxious to have Matt. He's a high-character guy, who's committed to the game. And for the international game, he is multi-faceted. He can play at the three, four and five spots."
Bonner, from Concord, N.H., was a fan favourite during his two seasons with the Raptors (2004-06).
Rautins added that Toronto native Jamaal Magloire, a centre with the Miami Heat, is also on board to play at the worlds. Magloire has been criticized in the past for not playing for the national side during his time in the NBA.
"He's a physical beast," Rautins said. "He has an edge to him and he has no problem cracking you on the side of the head if that needs to be done."
The inclusion of Bonner and Magloire would give Rautins three NBA players on the national team, joining Heat forward Joel Anthony.
Rautins said he has total faith in Toronto's Jermaine Anderson to carry the load at point guard if Steve Nash doesn't join the team. Anderson played the game of his life in leading Canada to a 80-76 win over the favored Dominican Republic last week in a game that put Canada into the worlds.
The Red Rocket will be wearing red and white at the world basketball championships next summer.
Canadian men's coach Leo Rautins said former Raptors forward Matt Bonner almost certainly will have his paperwork completed in time to play for Canada at the 2010 worlds in Turkey.
Bonner, who started 67 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season, has taken the necessary steps to acquire Canadian citizenship. He married a Toronto girl and spends much off the off-season in Canada. Rautins said that almost immediately after the Canadian team qualified for the 2010 worlds last week in Puerto Rico, team officials began receiving text messages from Bonner.
"He's jacked. He's completely pumped and waiting to play," Rautins said. "It's going to happen, and we're anxious to have Matt. He's a high-character guy, who's committed to the game. And for the international game, he is multi-faceted. He can play at the three, four and five spots."
Bonner, from Concord, N.H., was a fan favourite during his two seasons with the Raptors (2004-06).
Rautins added that Toronto native Jamaal Magloire, a centre with the Miami Heat, is also on board to play at the worlds. Magloire has been criticized in the past for not playing for the national side during his time in the NBA.
"He's a physical beast," Rautins said. "He has an edge to him and he has no problem cracking you on the side of the head if that needs to be done."
The inclusion of Bonner and Magloire would give Rautins three NBA players on the national team, joining Heat forward Joel Anthony.
Rautins said he has total faith in Toronto's Jermaine Anderson to carry the load at point guard if Steve Nash doesn't join the team. Anderson played the game of his life in leading Canada to a 80-76 win over the favored Dominican Republic last week in a game that put Canada into the worlds.