Kori Ellis
07-10-2006, 02:30 PM
July 10, 2006
Matt Bonner On The Move
Roven Yau, spurs.com contributor
http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/bwb_bonner_060710.html
http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/bwb_bonner_300.jpg
While many NBA players are enjoying a relaxing off-season, San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner has been busy circling the world as an ambassador for the game he loves. The Red Rocket recently completed a whirlwind trip through China and Florida, with no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
Bonner was one of five players selected to represent the NBA at the Basketball Without Borders program in Asia. He traveled to Shanghai, China, where the group conducted a three-day coaching clinic for the local children. The camp focused on skill development, promoted friendships through basketball and fostered good sportsmanship techniques.
“After my rookie year I saw a couple features on NBA TV about them going over there and how they helped the kids in the communities,” Bonner said. “That really struck a core with me. Just the fact that as an NBA player you are in a position to help those in need, I wanted to take advantage of that. So I contacted the league office and did anything they wanted.”
As the lone NBA player from his home state of New Hampshire, Bonner was well educated in the challenges of succeeding in an environment where basketball resources are limited. During the harsh winter months, he would practice dribbling drills for hours in the family’s basement and showed an early interested in passing along his enthusiasm for the game.
“He was really good about letting us be around him and tag along,” Bonner’s younger sister Becky said. “We were really competitive, all of us (their younger brother included), and that will never die. He’s always been our basketball hero.”
Bonner’s persistence earned him a scholarship at the University of Florida, a school which was known for its football prowess, but not its basketball program.
“When I committed to Florida, everyone was wondering ‘why are you going there?’ They had not made the tournament in six years and I was getting recruited by teams that people in New Hampshire were more familiar with like Kansas, UConn and Boston College,” Bonner said.
He silenced the critics during his freshman season in 1999-00 when the Gators reach their first national championship game and laid the foundation for the program’s future success as 2006 National Champions. More importantly, Bonner earned Verizon Academic All-American of the Year honors for two straight seasons, was a First Team Academic All-American for three consecutive years and graduated on time.
Each summer Bonner returns to Gainesville, where he preaches to more than 500 kids the importance of education, as well as fundamental basketball skills hoping in influence a new generation of players.
“I think the things that I say and the lessons I try to teach the kids are to make them not only better basketball players,” Bonner said, “but better in the classroom and better in life.”
Matt Bonner On The Move
Roven Yau, spurs.com contributor
http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/bwb_bonner_060710.html
http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/bwb_bonner_300.jpg
While many NBA players are enjoying a relaxing off-season, San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner has been busy circling the world as an ambassador for the game he loves. The Red Rocket recently completed a whirlwind trip through China and Florida, with no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
Bonner was one of five players selected to represent the NBA at the Basketball Without Borders program in Asia. He traveled to Shanghai, China, where the group conducted a three-day coaching clinic for the local children. The camp focused on skill development, promoted friendships through basketball and fostered good sportsmanship techniques.
“After my rookie year I saw a couple features on NBA TV about them going over there and how they helped the kids in the communities,” Bonner said. “That really struck a core with me. Just the fact that as an NBA player you are in a position to help those in need, I wanted to take advantage of that. So I contacted the league office and did anything they wanted.”
As the lone NBA player from his home state of New Hampshire, Bonner was well educated in the challenges of succeeding in an environment where basketball resources are limited. During the harsh winter months, he would practice dribbling drills for hours in the family’s basement and showed an early interested in passing along his enthusiasm for the game.
“He was really good about letting us be around him and tag along,” Bonner’s younger sister Becky said. “We were really competitive, all of us (their younger brother included), and that will never die. He’s always been our basketball hero.”
Bonner’s persistence earned him a scholarship at the University of Florida, a school which was known for its football prowess, but not its basketball program.
“When I committed to Florida, everyone was wondering ‘why are you going there?’ They had not made the tournament in six years and I was getting recruited by teams that people in New Hampshire were more familiar with like Kansas, UConn and Boston College,” Bonner said.
He silenced the critics during his freshman season in 1999-00 when the Gators reach their first national championship game and laid the foundation for the program’s future success as 2006 National Champions. More importantly, Bonner earned Verizon Academic All-American of the Year honors for two straight seasons, was a First Team Academic All-American for three consecutive years and graduated on time.
Each summer Bonner returns to Gainesville, where he preaches to more than 500 kids the importance of education, as well as fundamental basketball skills hoping in influence a new generation of players.
“I think the things that I say and the lessons I try to teach the kids are to make them not only better basketball players,” Bonner said, “but better in the classroom and better in life.”