The case for retiring Matt Bonner’s number

After all, they retired Bruce Bowen’s…

This week marked the one-year anniversary from when Matt Bonner “announced” his retirement.

Although Bonner made his announcement in a tongue-and-cheek fashion, there is an argument to be made. And I made it a year ago:

I created a petition to Retire Matt Bonner #15 for fans to sign.

Here’s a little of what I wrote:

“Matt Bonner dedicated a decade of his career to the San Antonio Spurs. He is one of only 6 players to have 10 consecutive years with the Spurs and only 1 of 8 to have 10 at all. Currently, all of the other players -who have retired- have had their numbers hanging in the rafters.

With the Spurs, it is not just about the numbers and statistical contributions. One cannot log into the history books the impact Bonner made on locker room culture as well as Spurs fandome and San Antonio culinary and arts culture. He became a San Antonion.

But if the ALL TIME stats are what are important:

1st– Bonner ranks #1 in Spurs history for turnover percentage at 7.1%

2 NBA titles with Spurs (2007, 2014)

3rd– Effective Field Goal % .571

4th best Offensive Rating 118.1

4th in both 3-point attempts and 3-point goals leading to Bonner being

5th in 3 point % at .413

8th in games played at 632

and

10th in True Shooting % .584

I truly believe Matt Bonner deserves consideration for having the #15 retired and hanging proudly from the rafters.”

No one spread the floor like Bonner and had the ability to go kamikaze on defenses that didn’t take him seriously.

Matt’s immersion into San Antonio’s music scene, culinary culture, city events keep him in the public eye. As a Sour his continued contributions to the Spurs System in the gym, in the television studio, and in the arena have endeared him to the patrons of the city he calls home

Thus far, only one person has signed the petition: ME!

Andrew Monaco hasn’t signed it. Ric Renner, Bill Land, Sean Elliott, even Matt himself haven’t signed it. I have put it out on Twitter, Facebook, and through email. Admittedly, I don’t have many Twitter followers, I don’t really use Facebook and most of my emails go into people’s junk folders after years of band gig announcements. Still and all.

What do you think? Should the Red Mamba be hanging from the rafters? Honestly, I believe only San Antonio would honor a player of Bonner’s stature. But then, this is San Antonio.

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Source: Pounding The Rock