Kori Ellis
06-23-2006, 03:23 AM
Bonner 'excited' to be new member of Spurs
Web Posted: 06/23/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062306.1D.bonner.178c845.html
As Spurs officials gave Matt Bonner a tour of the city Thursday, whisking him from the airport to the AT&T Center to the team's practice facility, it didn't take long for him to spot trouble.
Every stop the group made was linked by sprawling highway. There wasn't a single subway sign in sight.
In his two years in Toronto, Bonner was dubbed the "Red Rocket" for relying on the city's identically named streetcars. He'll have to find another way to get to work this season after the Raptors traded him and Eric Williams to the Spurs for Rasho Nesterovic on Wednesday.
San Antonio's Via bus system already appears to have been ruled out.
"It's one thing hopping on a streetcar for five blocks," Bonner said, "... but too many transfers might not be worth the hassle."
Despite his transportation dilemma, Bonner doesn't consider his move to the Spurs an inconvenience, even if he wasn't expecting it. Bonner was helping Florida coach Billy Donovan with a basketball camp Wednesday at his alma mater when Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo phoned to tell him he had been traded.
"Obviously, I was surprised," Bonner said. "But once he said the Spurs, I was pretty excited.
"Missing the playoffs was the hardest thing (in Toronto). Just having to sit at home while other teams get to still play, and you're watching them on TV, always put a pit in my stomach and made me want to go out and work even harder to get there."
Bonner's work ethic never has been questioned. A 2003 second-round draft pick of Chicago whose rights were acquired by Toronto, he began his professional career with Sicilia in Italy's top league. After the team went bankrupt midway through the season, Bonner continued to play without drawing a paycheck. He briefly contracted salmonella and was nearly evicted from his apartment but stayed.
"I figured if I wanted to become the best player I could be and have a chance to play in the NBA," Bonner said, "it would be important for my development to stick it out and get as much experience over there as I could."
Bonner's decision paid off the following fall. Spurning more lucrative offers to play in Europe, he accepted an invitation to the Raptors' training camp and made the team. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds without missing a game and made 42.4percent of his 3-pointers to lead all rookies.
Toronto re-signed Bonner last summer to a two-year, $4 million contract. He put up nearly identical numbers last season.
A 6-foot-10 forward, Bonner has compensated for his lack of quickness with his outside shooting. In his only visit to the AT&T Center last season, he scored 11 points, made two 3-pointers and even drew a foul from Tim Duncan for a four-point play in one quarter.
The Spurs hope Bonner's ability to space the floor will give them another option to use against versatile power forwards such as Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki and Phoenix's Boris Diaw.
The trade "is a reaction to maybe some of the other teams we're going to have to face to get out of the West," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "Matt is one of the better 3-point shooters in the NBA, especially for a guy with size ... He's never been known as a lock-down defender, but hopefully, Eric can help with that."
Bonner, who said his only knowledge of the Spurs is from playing against them, spoke with Gregg Popovich by phone Wednesday night. Duncan also welcomed him Thursday morning after coincidentally running into him at the airport.
Though Bonner grew up in New Hampshire and played in Toronto, he said his four years at Florida prepared him well for South Texas' humidity. He also knows a bit of local history after twice visiting the Alamo during his two trips with the Raptors: One of the Alamo's defenders was from his home state.
"I stared at his name and tried to memorize it," Bonner said, "but always forget."
Bonner's next challenge is to find a car. He became one of Toronto's most popular sports figures in part because he relied on public transportation — and his feet — to get around town. When he returned to New Hampshire in the summer, a friend hooked him up with a rental.
"I haven't decided whether I want to get one here or get one in New Hampshire," Bonner said. "There's no sales tax in New Hampshire, but it would be a pretty big hike down here."
Web Posted: 06/23/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA062306.1D.bonner.178c845.html
As Spurs officials gave Matt Bonner a tour of the city Thursday, whisking him from the airport to the AT&T Center to the team's practice facility, it didn't take long for him to spot trouble.
Every stop the group made was linked by sprawling highway. There wasn't a single subway sign in sight.
In his two years in Toronto, Bonner was dubbed the "Red Rocket" for relying on the city's identically named streetcars. He'll have to find another way to get to work this season after the Raptors traded him and Eric Williams to the Spurs for Rasho Nesterovic on Wednesday.
San Antonio's Via bus system already appears to have been ruled out.
"It's one thing hopping on a streetcar for five blocks," Bonner said, "... but too many transfers might not be worth the hassle."
Despite his transportation dilemma, Bonner doesn't consider his move to the Spurs an inconvenience, even if he wasn't expecting it. Bonner was helping Florida coach Billy Donovan with a basketball camp Wednesday at his alma mater when Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo phoned to tell him he had been traded.
"Obviously, I was surprised," Bonner said. "But once he said the Spurs, I was pretty excited.
"Missing the playoffs was the hardest thing (in Toronto). Just having to sit at home while other teams get to still play, and you're watching them on TV, always put a pit in my stomach and made me want to go out and work even harder to get there."
Bonner's work ethic never has been questioned. A 2003 second-round draft pick of Chicago whose rights were acquired by Toronto, he began his professional career with Sicilia in Italy's top league. After the team went bankrupt midway through the season, Bonner continued to play without drawing a paycheck. He briefly contracted salmonella and was nearly evicted from his apartment but stayed.
"I figured if I wanted to become the best player I could be and have a chance to play in the NBA," Bonner said, "it would be important for my development to stick it out and get as much experience over there as I could."
Bonner's decision paid off the following fall. Spurning more lucrative offers to play in Europe, he accepted an invitation to the Raptors' training camp and made the team. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds without missing a game and made 42.4percent of his 3-pointers to lead all rookies.
Toronto re-signed Bonner last summer to a two-year, $4 million contract. He put up nearly identical numbers last season.
A 6-foot-10 forward, Bonner has compensated for his lack of quickness with his outside shooting. In his only visit to the AT&T Center last season, he scored 11 points, made two 3-pointers and even drew a foul from Tim Duncan for a four-point play in one quarter.
The Spurs hope Bonner's ability to space the floor will give them another option to use against versatile power forwards such as Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki and Phoenix's Boris Diaw.
The trade "is a reaction to maybe some of the other teams we're going to have to face to get out of the West," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "Matt is one of the better 3-point shooters in the NBA, especially for a guy with size ... He's never been known as a lock-down defender, but hopefully, Eric can help with that."
Bonner, who said his only knowledge of the Spurs is from playing against them, spoke with Gregg Popovich by phone Wednesday night. Duncan also welcomed him Thursday morning after coincidentally running into him at the airport.
Though Bonner grew up in New Hampshire and played in Toronto, he said his four years at Florida prepared him well for South Texas' humidity. He also knows a bit of local history after twice visiting the Alamo during his two trips with the Raptors: One of the Alamo's defenders was from his home state.
"I stared at his name and tried to memorize it," Bonner said, "but always forget."
Bonner's next challenge is to find a car. He became one of Toronto's most popular sports figures in part because he relied on public transportation — and his feet — to get around town. When he returned to New Hampshire in the summer, a friend hooked him up with a rental.
"I haven't decided whether I want to get one here or get one in New Hampshire," Bonner said. "There's no sales tax in New Hampshire, but it would be a pretty big hike down here."