tekdragon
01-03-2007, 04:26 PM
The Pride and Joy of Concord...
The best of 2006 - the Red Rocket (http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061231/REPOSITORY/612310384/1007/SPORTS)
2) The Red Rocket lands in Texas
After two years as a fan-favorite in Toronto, Concord's Matt Bonner, a 6-foot-10 sharpshooter, found himself in San Antonio, shipped to the powerhouse Spurs on June 21 in a trade by the lowly Raptors.
Bonner, forward Eric Williams and a 2009 second-round draft pick were sent to the Spurs for 7-foot center Rasho Nesterovic, ending Bonner's two-year stay with the Raptors.
He averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season, hitting 45 percent of his field-goal attempts and 42 percent from 3-point range.
And while Bonner was merely a reserve in Toronto, averaging 21.9 minutes per game last season, the fans loved him. Bonner often walked to the Air Canada Centre, engaging in conversation with fans along the way.
Or perhaps he'd take the city's train system, known as the Red Rocket, which, of course, became the big redhead's nickname.
His affable nature, down-home charm and unparalleled work ethic - Bonner shot hundreds of jumpers at the Centre on off nights while his teammates enjoyed the city's night life - made him an instant hit up north.
And before the trade, Bonner was involved in a game of historical proportions when, on Jan. 21 in Los Angeles, he watched Kobe Bryant score 81 points in a 122-104 Lakers win. Only Wilt Chamberlain, who had 100 points in a game in 1962, topped Bryant's total.
Bonner started the game, logging 26 minutes and scoring 12 points. But things have changed for him in San Antonio. The Spurs, led by future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, won NBA championships in 1999, 2003 and '05 and currently have the league's second-best record at 22-8 and several tall shooters.
That's translated into reduced playing time for Bonner, who's played in 20 of 30 games this season, averaging 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game.
Bonner's two-year, $4 million contract expires after this season, and it remains to be seen if he'll stick with the Spurs or move elsewhere.
Meanwhile, with his shooting skill, height and work ethic, combined with the rigors of an 82-game regular season, Bonner is still confident he will have an impact with the Spurs.
When told last month that his fans back home wonder about his minutes and dearly want him to succeed, Bonner said, "I understand that. But you've just got to have patience."
The best of 2006 - the Red Rocket (http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061231/REPOSITORY/612310384/1007/SPORTS)
2) The Red Rocket lands in Texas
After two years as a fan-favorite in Toronto, Concord's Matt Bonner, a 6-foot-10 sharpshooter, found himself in San Antonio, shipped to the powerhouse Spurs on June 21 in a trade by the lowly Raptors.
Bonner, forward Eric Williams and a 2009 second-round draft pick were sent to the Spurs for 7-foot center Rasho Nesterovic, ending Bonner's two-year stay with the Raptors.
He averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season, hitting 45 percent of his field-goal attempts and 42 percent from 3-point range.
And while Bonner was merely a reserve in Toronto, averaging 21.9 minutes per game last season, the fans loved him. Bonner often walked to the Air Canada Centre, engaging in conversation with fans along the way.
Or perhaps he'd take the city's train system, known as the Red Rocket, which, of course, became the big redhead's nickname.
His affable nature, down-home charm and unparalleled work ethic - Bonner shot hundreds of jumpers at the Centre on off nights while his teammates enjoyed the city's night life - made him an instant hit up north.
And before the trade, Bonner was involved in a game of historical proportions when, on Jan. 21 in Los Angeles, he watched Kobe Bryant score 81 points in a 122-104 Lakers win. Only Wilt Chamberlain, who had 100 points in a game in 1962, topped Bryant's total.
Bonner started the game, logging 26 minutes and scoring 12 points. But things have changed for him in San Antonio. The Spurs, led by future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, won NBA championships in 1999, 2003 and '05 and currently have the league's second-best record at 22-8 and several tall shooters.
That's translated into reduced playing time for Bonner, who's played in 20 of 30 games this season, averaging 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game.
Bonner's two-year, $4 million contract expires after this season, and it remains to be seen if he'll stick with the Spurs or move elsewhere.
Meanwhile, with his shooting skill, height and work ethic, combined with the rigors of an 82-game regular season, Bonner is still confident he will have an impact with the Spurs.
When told last month that his fans back home wonder about his minutes and dearly want him to succeed, Bonner said, "I understand that. But you've just got to have patience."