If there are two, token bench guys in the NBA, they are Matt Bonner and Brian Scalabrine, who both became fan-favorites during their time in the Association because, well, they don’t exactly fit the mold of professional basketball players.
A little awkward thanks to their lanky dad bods and red hair, the two guys might still not be the first taken in a pick-up game at the local gym, but with three NBA titles between them in a combined 22 seasons, they know how to hoop.
And, in a matchup that everyone wanted to see, the two gingers took to the black top yesterday to settle the score as the league’s preemptive bench player, competing in a game of Knockout during a charity event.
.@scalabrine vs #MattBonner in knockout. #WhiteMamba vs #RedMamba pic.twitter.com/2XJ9FaUZCl
— Luke Bonner (@LukeyBonner) August 6, 2015
“”Now, this might not have been Jordan vs. Bird, but it was pretty close, as the two traded buckets and competed like only they could till the final shot—a dagger three from Bonner—ended the head-to-head.
Thankfully, it was all caught on video from Bonner’s brother, Luke, who may have just blown up the Internet with the footage.
Big finish. #RedMamba vs #WhiteMamba @Scalabrine @SeedsofPeace pic.twitter.com/Iw9KYSJOlU — Luke Bonner (@LukeyBonner) August 6, 2015
In all fairness to Scalabrine, the White Mamba hasn’t played in the NBA since 2012, instead finding his way around the coaching scene since then. So the victory by Bonner—who’s still on the San Antonio Spurs’ roster should have been expected.
Whether it was the Knockout matchup of the century they put on display yesterday or being the subjects of two hilarious videos in the past couple of years—Bonner’s and Scal’s—these two red-headed ballers cause a scene wherever they go.
Now it’s up to Bonner to take on the ultimate Mamba, Kobe Bryant, to settle the score as the best of the deadliest shooters.