Former Raptor Matt Bonner retiring from basketball after 12 seasons in NBA
Matt Bonner, known affectionately as “The Red Rocket” during his time in Toronto, is retiring from the NBA.
The 36-year-old announced the news in a humorous video posted on The Players Tribune on Friday.
Bonner made his debut in 2004-05 and played his first two seasons for the Raptors before he was traded to San Antonio in the deal that brought Rasho Nesterovic to Toronto. He was beloved in Toronto for his humble, good-natured demeanour, and garnered his “Red Rocket” nickname when he revealed he was a regular user of Toronto’s mass transit system.
One of his most popular moments as a Raptor was when future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett tried to fight him after he knocked down Garnett with a flagrant foul. Bonner was ejected and the Air Canada Centre gleefully ushered Bonner off the floor with a standing ovation and chorus of cheers. Bonner high-fived fans on his way to the locker-room.