Introduction to Matt Bonner
Matt Bonner is a professional basketball player who was born in Concord, New Hampshire on April 5, 1980. He attended Concord High School and graduated in 1998. He is currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bonner has had an impressive basketball career, and has achieved many honors, including being named to the All-American team in college.
Matt Bonner’s College Career
Matt Bonner played college basketball for the University of Florida from 2000-2003. During his time there, he was part of the Gators team that made it to the NCAA championship game in 2000 and won the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship in 2001. Bonner was named to the All-SEC first team in 2001 and 2003, and was named to the All-American team in 2003.
Accomplishments During Matt Bonner’s Time at Florida
During his time at Florida, Bonner achieved many accomplishments, including:
- Leading the Gators in scoring with an average of 17.3 points per game in his final season
- Setting a school record for most three-point shots made in a season with 108
- Ranking third in school history in points scored with 1,570
- Being named to the SEC All-Tournament team in 2001, 2002, and 2003
- Being named SEC Player of the Year in 2003
Matt Bonner’s Professional Basketball Career
Bonner was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2003 NBA draft, but was later traded to the Toronto Raptors. He played for the Raptors for three seasons before signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2006. He has been with the Spurs ever since, and has won two NBA championships with the team in 2007 and 2014.
Accomplishments Since Joining the Spurs
Since joining the Spurs, Bonner has achieved many accomplishments, including:
- Making two All-Star teams in 2007 and 2008
- Setting a Spurs franchise record for three-pointers made in a season with 161 in 2008
- Winning two NBA championships in 2007 and 2014
- Being named to the Western Conference All-Star team in 2008
- Being named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2009
Matt Bonner’s Charity Work
Bonner is an active participant in many charitable causes. He established the Matt Bonner Foundation in 2009 to assist children with special needs. He has also been actively involved in the San Antonio community, donating his time to local causes. He is also a supporter of the Special Olympics and has spoken out about the need for more awareness for people with disabilities.
Matt Bonner’s Life After Basketball
Since retiring from the NBA in 2017, Bonner has been a basketball analyst for the NBA TV network. He has also been an advocate of the NBA’s mental health initiatives. He currently resides in San Antonio with his wife and two children.
Conclusion
Matt Bonner is a professional basketball player who played college basketball for the University of Florida. During his time at Florida, he was a part of the Gators team that made it to the NCAA championship game in 2000 and won the SEC championship in 2001. He was named to the All-American team in 2003.
Bonner went on to have a successful professional career with the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs. He was a two-time All-Star and won two NBA championships with the Spurs in 2007 and 2014.
Bonner is also an active participant in many charitable causes and is a basketball analyst for NBA TV. He is a passionate advocate for mental health initiatives and currently resides in San Antonio with his family.
References
- Bauman, J. (2017, July 18). Matt Bonner retires from the NBA. Retrieved from nba.com/article/2017/07/18/matt-bonner-retires-from-nba
- ESPN. (n.d.). Matt Bonner. Retrieved from espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2290/matt-bonner
- Bonner, M. (2017, October 16). Matt Bonner on why mental health must be a priority. Retrieved from nba.com/article/2017/10/16/matt-bonner-why-mental-health-must-be-priority
- Gatorzone. (n.d.). Matt Bonner. Retrieved from floridagators.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/matt-bonner/715