Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Anthony Bonner was a rugged NBA small forward whose rebounding, defensive versatility, and relentless hustle made him a valuable role player for the Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks during the early 1990s. A high-motor glue guy, Bonner excelled at guarding multiple positions, crashing the boards, and providing physical, team-first play that complemented higher-usage scorers.

Here is the detailed information about Anthony Bonner:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Anthony Reed Bonner
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born June 8, 1968
  • Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)
  • Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 24, 6 (varied by team)
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Vashon High School, St. Louis, Missouri
  • College: Saint Louis University (1986–1990)
  • NBA Draft: 1990, 1st round, 23rd overall pick by the Sacramento Kings
  • Teams Played For:
    • Sacramento Kings (1990–1993)
    • New York Knicks (1993–1996)
    • Orlando Magic (1999–2000)
    • Played internationally in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Information on his children is not widely available.
  • Siblings: Information on his siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Anthony Bonner’s player archetype was that of a rugged, high-motor power forward, the kind of interior worker who made his biggest impact through rebounding, physicality, and effort plays rather than finesse scoring. Offensively, he fit as a complementary frontcourt scorer and possession extender, generating value around the basket and on the glass more than as a perimeter creator, while defensively his role was built on toughness, activity, and board work in the paint. Physically, Bonner brought strong forward size and a powerful frame at 6-foot-8, and his college résumé underscores exactly what kind of player he was: Saint Louis lists him as the school’s all-time leader in both points and rebounds, and he also led Division I in rebounding in 1989-90. Overall, his play style was that of an old-school energy forward—physical, relentless, productive on the interior, and most comfortable doing the hard work that tilted games in the frontcourt.

Scouting Report

Anthony Bonner always looked like he was happiest when the game became untidy. Loose balls, missed shots, broken possessions—that was his territory. What stands out isn’t a polished offensive package but the way he created value before a play was ever officially over. He attacked the offensive glass relentlessly, slipped behind ball-watchers for timely cuts and generated easy baskets simply by beating bigger forwards to the right spot. When he handled the ball, it was usually with a purpose: one or two hard dribbles into space rather than elaborate creation. His passing was underrated because it came from quick decisions. After an offensive rebound or short-roll catch, he’d immediately fire the ball to an open shooter or cutter instead of forcing a contested finish, keeping possessions alive without slowing them down. Defensively, Bonner covered far more ground than his frame suggested. He rotated early as the low man, recovered to his own assignment with urgency and was comfortable switching onto wings for a few dribbles before using his strength to steer them away from the middle. He wasn’t an intimidating rim protector and could be exposed against highly skilled isolation scorers who forced him into repeated changes of direction, but his anticipation consistently disrupted offensive rhythm. That’s where his impact really showed. To me, he fit best next to a skilled scoring forward or centre who demanded defensive attention, allowing Bonner to thrive as the connective piece doing all the work that creates extra possessions without requiring designed touches. His game brings to mind Jerome Williams in the way he manufactured production through rebounding and defensive activity, while there are shades of a less explosive Paul Millsap, particularly in how he instinctively found gaps around the basket, made quick reads off second-chance opportunities and quietly stitched together winning sequences that rarely centred on his own scoring.

Fun Facts

  • Anthony Bonner was known for his versatility and defensive abilities. He also had a successful career in European leagues after his NBA tenure.

Sources:

Saint Louis University Athletics — Billikens Notes

Wikipedia — List of NCAA Division I men’s basketball season rebounding leaders

Wikipedia — Orlando Magic all-time roster