The NBA's everyman
by Bryan Chu, STAFF , San Antonio Express-News
But that is all right with the fifth-year forward, who doesn't fit the mold of a typical NBA player.
"I tell people I'm a minor celebrity in three places on the planet: San Antonio, New Hampshire and Toronto," said Bonner, who is New Hampshire's second NBA player after Jeff Cross. "And by minor, I mean minor. Most people that recognize me don't care."
Last month, Bonner had a charity tournament at Canyon Springs golf club. He shook several dozen hands and smiled just as many times for pictures.
"That always cracks me up," Bonner said. "Why would you want to have your picture with me when I'm just like everyone else? I'll never get used to that."
Bonner isn't the most popular Spurs player, but is important to the team, especially given injuries to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who returned to action Monday night.
Though he fell out of the rotation earlier this season (he averaged 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 11.3 minutes of action per game, including back-to-back games where he did not play), the past six games have been different. Off the bench, Bonner has averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game.
"He's a guy that continues to work at the craft and is willing to learn," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "He's definitely shown he's improved, and we'll keep looking for that."
There is little flash in Bonner's game, which carries into his personal life.
Bonner is a self-proclaimed "boring guy" who likes staying at home and reading. He's into Indie Rock. Things he's revealed on his bio: He's never had a cavity and he has a bad habit of twisting his hair.
He drives a 2006 white Pontiac Grand Prix; in college he had a hand-me-down 1999 Hyundai while playing at Florida, where he had a 3.96 GPA in business administration.
"They are jealous" of his ride, Bonner, 28, said of his teammates. "They know I can take any one of them off the line."
Despite making $2.978 million this year and $3.256 next year, Bonner remains frugal. Former Spurs guard Brent Barry, who is now with the Houston Rockets, remembers a time in Sacramento when Bonner was getting a snack at his favorite spot: Subway.
"Matt had a coupon for half off a sandwich, which said: 'Valid at participating stores only,'" Barry said. "The owner said we're not 'participating stores' and Matt was like 'Well aren't you a Subway? I walk outside and I see the name 'Subway.'" After 10 minutes, he talked his way to half off a turkey sandwich. He saved like $2.16."
Added Bowen: "It's not about what you make, it's about what you keep. He understands that motto perfectly."
His penchant for being economical came to the forefront in his first year in the NBA with the Raptors in 2004. He earned the nickname "Red Rocket" for being a fan of riding Toronto's red streetcars, which had the slogan "Ride the Rocket."
A big part of Bonner's career has been giving back.
In his hometown of Concord, Bonner has his own charity, Sneakers -N- Speakers, a Basketball clinic that gives its proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He and his wife, Nadia, are regular volunteers for "Basketball without Borders," an NBA summer camp for youths across the world.
"I feel like I have not so much a responsibility, but an opportunity to really have a positive influence and effect on kids' lives," Bonner said.
Many people don't know this, but Bonner's brand is slowly developing.
While the majority of NBA players wear Nike, Adidas or Reebok Basketball shoes, Bonner sports black ones from New Balance, a company known more for its running shoes than hightops. Only a handful of guys in the NBA wear them, said Bonner, who convinced teammate Anthony Tolliver to switch over.
Bonner signed a contract with New Balance, and he'll have his own shoe coming out: the Matt Bonner limited edition New Hampshire Basketball shoes. They'll have the Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation that became an icon in New Hampshire, on the tongue, and it will say "Live Free or Die" - the state motto - on the back.
"They're going to be a hot item," Bonner said.
FROM GRAPHIC:
Matt Bonner's Keys to Frugality
* Tip No. 5: I eat a lot of sandwiches and I always get my "sandwich club cards" stamped so I can cash them out when they're full.
* Tip No. 4: I take advantage of free stuff. For example, I'm with the New Balance this year so I live in my old school gray 574s which I get for free.
* Tip No. 3: I don't drive a wicked expensive car. I still claim my Pontiac Grand Prix can take any of Tim Duncan's cars ... well maybe not all of them.
* Tip No. 2: Buy in bulk ... If the toilet paper, soap and laundry detergent industries go on a strike we should be all set for years.
* Tip No. 1: Make sure any catalogs in the mail go straight to the trash can before my wife can get her hands on them.
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