Spurs forced to destroy Bonner after ankle injury

SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Spurs lost more than just a game Saturday. While leaving the court following a 101-82 loss to the New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio forward Matt Bonner suffered a fractured left ankle and was euthanized just outside of the team’s locker room.

“Matt was a great teammate and a huge part of this team,” said a teary-eyed Greg Popovich. “He’s irreplaceable, it’s as simple as that. Hopefully we can rally around this unfortunate situation.”

Bonner, who has not played yet in this year’s playoffs, is survived by his dog, Festivus, as well as the leagues best nickname – “The Big Boner.”

Tim Duncan was one of the few Spurs willing to talk to SSNN about Bonner’s death. He said he was especially close to Bonner and that he considered Bonner, Tony Parker and himself the Spurs “Big Three.”

“We even came up with a nickname for ourselves,” Duncan explained. “We were Bonner, Thugs and Harmony. Bonner was obviously Matt’s name, Thugs because of my hardcore-street image and Harmony because of Tony Parker’s angelic voice. I was always really proud of coming up with that.”

The Spurs are hoping to have Monday’s game with New Orleans re-scheduled so they can attend Bonner’s funeral, but they have not got a response from the league yet. Popovich said the team would do whatever they could to honor Bonner’s memory.

“It’s just so sad on so many levels,” Popovich said. “He had a great future ahead of him. After his playing career we were going to stud him out in hopes of producing an unlimited supply of unathletic, goofy-looking white basketball players. Our only hope know is trading for Brian Scalabrine, and that’s not going to be easy.”