SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs announced Wednesday they have re-signed forward Matt Bonner, the club's longest-tenured player outside of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Bonner generated interest from other teams, but opted to return to the Spurs on a one-year deal for approximately $1.5 million. Bonner spent last season with the Spurs playing for a veteran minimum salary of $1.45 million.
An 11-year veteran, Bonner, 35, has spent the past nine seasons in San Antonio, playing in 602 games while averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game and connecting on 45.5 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from 3-point range. Bonner ranks No. 3 in franchise annals for 3-pointers made (782), sixth in 3-point field goal percentage and ninth in games played. Bonner also has appeared in 94 playoff games for the Spurs, averaging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Bonner is valued for his experience and ability to spread the floor and connect on 3-point shots.
Bonner originally came into the NBA as the 45th overall pick in 2003 by the Chicago Bulls, but his draft rights were traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he spent his first two seasons.
Bonner currently ranks eighth among active players in 3-point field goal percentage.
Ginobili took to Twitter to welcome his longtime teammate back:
Very happy to read that Matt Bonner, aka Red Rocket, aka Red Mamba, aka Coach B, aka Air New Hampshire is coming back next season! 🚀🚀
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 16, 2015