Matt Bonner Bio: Career & Retirement [ 2023 Update]

Posted by Arica Deslauriers on Saturday, May 18, 2024

The “Red Mamba” Matt Bonner is an American former professional basketball player. He is a well-known retired player who has played for several National Basketball Association (NBA) teams.

Moreover, he’s twice the NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. Also, he was named AP honorable mention All-American for two consecutive years, 2002 and 2003.

Matt Bonner is further known for his determination, shielding ability, and versatility. Thus, he used to play the role of center and power forward position as a basketball player.

Find more informational facts and figures about the former professional basketball player, Matt Bonner.

But before that, glance at the briefly introduced quick facts right below.

Quick Facts

Full NameMatthew Robert Bonner
Birth DateApril 5, 1980
Birth PlaceConcord, New Hampshire 
Nick NameRed Rocket / Red Mamba
ReligionChristianity 
NationalityAmerican 
EthnicityAmerican
Education
  • Concord (Concord, New Hampshire)
  • Florida 
HoroscopeAries
Father’s NameDave Bonner
Mother’s NamePaula Bonner
SiblingsLuke Bonner (brother)
Age43 years old
Height6 feet 10 inches
Weight107 Kilograms (235 lb)
Jersey no.16, 15
Hair ColorBrown 
Eye ColorBlue
Body TypeAthletic
ProfessionFormer NBA Player
Professional Career Teams
  • Pallacanestro Messina
  • Toronto Raptors
  • San Antonio Spurs 
Draft Year2003 (Round: 2 / Pick: 45th overall)
Drafted ByChicago Bulls
Active Years2003 – 2017
Sexual OrientationStraight
Marital StatusMarried
WifeNadia Bonner
KidsThree (Two daughters and a son)
Net Worth$12 million
PositionCenter / Power forward 
Social MediaTwitterInstagram
MerchAutographed Basketball Card
Last UpdateNovember, 2023

Matt Boner: Basketball Career

College Career

Matt Bonner attended the University of Florida and played for Florida Gators men’s basketball under Billy Donovan’s coaching management.

Furthermore, he was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference designation and Associated Press honorable mention All-American.

Moreover, Bonner graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Florida in business administration and achieved high honors with a 3.96 GPA.

Later, he won Academic All-American of the Year for a basketball player in two consecutive years, 2002 and 2003.

Professional Career

Italy

Matt Bonner was selected with the 45th overall pick by Chicago Bulls in the 2003 NBA Draft.

But he was subsequently traded to the Toronto Raptors, yet he had to play overseas as Toronto Raptors did not have a roster spot available then.

Afterward, he signed with Sicilia Messina of the Italian League in Messina, Sicily. Later, Sicilia Messina filed for bankruptcy halfway through the season and stopped compensating the players.

Most of the other team players left, but Bonner continued to play for the Sicilia. Thus, he averaged 19.2 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Sicilia in the 2003-2004 season.

Toronto Raptors

Bonner signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Raptors in September 2004. 

Moreover, in 2004-05, he played in regular-season games, averaging 7.2 points. Thus, he became the only Raptors rookie to play all 82 games.

Likewise, Bonner re-signed a two-year contract with the Raptors in August 2005.

San Antonio Spurs

Bonner was traded to San Antonio Spurs on June 21, 2006.

In his first season with San Antonio Spurs, he scored 4.9 points per game in 11.7 minutes of action. Similarly, Bonner, with the team Spurs, won the NBA championship in the same season.

Then, Bonner re-signed a three-year contract with the Spurs in July 2007. He recorded 25 points and seven rebounds against the Golden State Warriors in December 2007.

In December 2009, he averaged 28 points and added eight rebounds against the Utah Jazz.

Career Extension

Bonner again resigned with the Spurs on a multi-year deal in July 2010.  In 2010-11 he led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage after he shot 45.7 %.

Furthermore, Bonner partook in the 2013 NBA Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend. Then, he recorded 19 on the scoreboard in the first round, where he knocked out Ryan Anderson and Stephen Curry.

Consequently, he couldn’t win the event as he encountered a 20-23 loss against Kyrie Irving in the final.

In June 2014, Matt Bonner won his second NBA championship with San Antonio Spurs after the team overthrew Miami Heat’s 4-1 loss in the 2014 NBA Finals.

Again, Bonner re-signed with Spurs on July 15, 2015. After eleven seasons stint with the Spurs, he declared his retirement on January 6, 2017.

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Awards & Achievements

  • Two times NBA champion (2007, 2014)
  • AP honorable mention All-American for two consecutive years (2002, 2003)
  • Academic All-American for two consecutive years (2002, 2003)
  • Fourth team Parade All American (1999)
  • First-team All-SEC (2003)
  • Second-team All SEC (2002)
  • Third-team All SEC (2001)

After Retirement

After most of his professional playing career with the San Antonio Spurs, Bonner resigned from his basketball career. 

Then, he joined the San Antonio Spurs TV broadcast and served Spurs TV as a studio analyst.

Matt Bonner: Early Life, Family & Education

The 6’10” Red Rocket was born in Concord, New Hampshire, on April 5, 1980. His full birth name is Matthew Robert Bonner, but he is generally admired as Matt Bonner.

Moreover, he holds American nationality and belongs to the North American ethnicity.

Furthermore, he is one of the two sons of Paula Bonner and Dave Bonner. He is blessed with one younger brother, Luke Bonner. Hence, both brothers developed a strong interest in basketball games in childhood.

His brother Luke retains an intensity for basketball; he played professionally for the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League.

Education

Bonner went to Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire, where he assisted the team to three state championships.

Also, he was the student with the highest academic standing in his graduating class. After high school, he enrolled at Florida University from 1999 to 2003.

Who is Matt Bonner’s Wife?

Talking about his relationship stature, Matt Bonner was married to Nadia Bonner in 2008.

In addition, his brother Luke performed the first speech at the wedding, being a groomsman.

The couple welcomed their two children; beautiful baby girl Evangeline-Vesper Lynne Bonner, on June 21, 2009, and an adorable son August Bonner on 27 August 2012.

Therefore, the Bonner family continued to grow. The couple welcomed their third baby girl in August 2018, the day before Bonners’ anniversary.

Further, his personal life is not in the limelight as his career path was; perhaps, he has kept away from the sensationalist media.

Matt Bonner Tiny Home

Matt Bonner has decided to take a shift at residing tiny. According to reports, the TV show “Tiny House Nation” offered him a small 276-square-foot home with excellent exterior and interior features.

Then, Bonner and his wife Nadia and two children joined the home in March 2016. He still owned a home in San Antonio, Texas, and one outside Meredith.

Purpose Behind His Nickname

The decisive former power forward was also well recognized by his nickname, Red Rocket or Red Mamba.

Moreover, he amassed the nickname “Red Rocket” for his red-colored hair and consistent usage of the public Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, which consists of the slogan “Ride the Rocket.”

Furthermore, the late professional basketball player Kobe Bryant conceived another nickname, “Red Mamba,” for Matt Bonner.

Bryant introduced his nickname on Twitter while live-tweeting during the 2013 onboard replay of his 81 points game against Bonner and the Toronto Raptors.

Salary, Endorsement & Net Worth

The former outstanding basketball player Matt Bonner has a net worth of $12 million.

Similarly, his estimated earnings with San Antonio Spurs in 2015-16 were $1,499,187. In the 2014-15 season, his salary with Spurs was $1,448,490.

Likewise, his salary in 2005-2006 with Toronto Raptors was $2,000,000. And, starting salary with Raptors in 2004-05 was $385,277.

In addition, he signed a basketball shoe contract with Adidas in January 2014.

Before that, he contracted with American sports footwear, New Balance.

 The Official Store of Matt Bonner | PWRFW

Besides, the official shop of Matt Bonner contains different product types ranging from custom shirts, apparel, sweatshirts, accessories, and many more. In addition, he has a collection of Sportscards.

The shop’s purpose is to connect with the fans on a broader level through their custom-made products. Hence, he earns a good amount as a businessman to fortify his income.

Age, Height & Weight 

The magnificent power forward was born on April 5, 1980. So, as per his birth date, he is 43 years old.

Similarly, he stands at a slight height of 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m), and his body weighs around 235 lb (107 kg).

Appearance-wise, his eye color is blue, and his hair color is brown. And his zodiac sign is Aries.

Moreover, his perfect body size and height overshadowed a decent number of players back then in NBA. Also, his younger brother Luke 7’1″, is taller than Matt, 6’10”.

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Social Media Presence

The former proficient power forward, Bonner, is often active on social media, specifically Twitter and Instagram.

Moreover, he comes up with decent posts and content that includes inquiries about his son’s assignment via Twitter and Instagram.

Further, he could be reckoned as a family man. His inclusive tenderness towards his parents, wife, and all three children can be affirmed by his uploaded pictures with affectionate captions.

Find him to get updated through his day-to-day life and activities with the username and link below.

Facts & Trivia

  • Bonner was a teammate with legendary power forward Tim Duncan on the San Antonio Spurs in 2006.
  • He is an extensive sandwich lover. Thus, his enthusiasm for a sandwich was so much that he has a blog titled “The Sandwich Hunter: The Quest for the Hoagie Grail.”
  • He is a fan of the sport curling.
  • Bonner was featured on the season premiere episode of FYI’s Tiny House Nation.

Rock On Foundation

Matt Bonner and his brother Luke established a non-profit organization, Rock On Foundation, which supports community activities based on artwork and sports.

The foundation is set to be the community’s helping hand, beginning in early 2013. Furthermore, it attends to increase community artistic as well as athletic opportunities.

Additionally, it contributes financial support for underprivileged youth enthusiastic about art and music and helps to heed life skills basketball camps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long did Matt Bonner play in the NBA?

The former sharpshooter Matt Bonner spent over 12 seasons in the NBA, where he spent most of the stint with the San Antonio Spurs. 

Did Matt Boner apply for Canadian citizenship?

Yes, he did but could not qualify as he resided most of the time outside the country.

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