Fansided

Every NBA team’s greatest shooter of all time

By Brandon Jefferson

OAKLAND, CA - 1995: Kenny Smith #30 of the Houston Rockets stretches against the Portland Trail Blazers during a game played circa 1995 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Brad Mangin/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - 1995: Kenny Smith #30 of the Houston Rockets stretches against the Portland Trail Blazers during a game played circa 1995 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Brad Mangin/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 7: Matt Bonner #15 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 7: Matt Bonner #15 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

San Antonio Spurs: Matt Bonner

The San Antonio Spurs have seen some of the greatest players suit up for them from David Robinson to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. They’ve also had players like Steve Kerr join the team in hopes of aiding the team in getting a championship. However, when it comes down to the best pure shooter in Spurs history, the obvious answer is Matt Bonner.

“Red Mamba” might not have gotten on the floor every night and didn’t have an impact on many of the team’s major games, but if there was one player that Gregg Popovic trusted to hit an outside shot it was Bonner. The Spurs love to run a play called “Hammer”. In this play two players on the opposite side of the ball run a backside flare screen as the ball handler or post attacks the defense on the baseline. The player would then kick it out to a shooter in the opposite corner for a likely wide-open 3-pointer. Whenever Bonner was in the game you could rest assure that “Hammer” was going to be run.

The 45th overall pick played his first two years in Toronto and then played his final 10 with the Spurs. During those 10 seasons Bonner shot 41.3 percent on 3-pointers (41.8 percent from the corner). At 6-foot-10 Bonner’s quick release and height made him an immaculate catch-and-shoot option, for his career he was assisted on 99.5 percent of all his attempted 3-pointers.

Bonner has been out-of-sight, out of mind of late, but that’s the way he was when he was in the NBA as well. A result of playing alongside the likes of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. Yet, “Red Rocket” was one of the best 3-point shooters in the game for 12 years.

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