Toronto Raptors re-sign Matt Bonner
Raptors News | Aug. 22, 2005
The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have agreed to terms with forward Matt Bonner on a new contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Raptors had extended a qualifying offer to Bonner on June 24 making him a restricted free agent.
“We are very pleased to have Matt back with our team,” said Rob Babcock, general manager of the Raptors. “Matt is more than just a good basketball player. He is the consummate professional who places his team first and gives a total effort every night. His positive attitude also carries off the court and into the community.”
Bonner, 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 18.9 minutes in 82 games last season. He was one of two Raptors to see action in every game. He ranked first among NBA rookies with a .424 (39-92) three-point field goal percentage and second with a .533 (247-463) field goal percentage. Bonner led the bench in scoring 18 times, including a career-best 21 points March 11 versus Atlanta.
The Raptors acquired the rights to Bonner on June 26, 2003 from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for a future second-round draft pick. He spent the 2003-04 season playing for Sicilia in the Italian A1 League, where he averaged 19.2 points (seventh in the 18-team league) and 9.3 rebounds (seventh in the league).
Bonner averaged 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds in 131 career games with the University of Florida. He is the only player in school history to record 1,500 points, 750 rebounds and 150 three-pointers. As a senior, he averaged a team-best 15.2 points and was second on the squad with 6.1 rebounds. A first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, he led the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.474).
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