TORONTO (2010 FIBA World Championship) – National team coach Leo Rautins and the rest of Canada’s basketball fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Matt Bonner will represent the country at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

The American center should have no problem obtaining a Canadian passport as he is married to a Canadian and owns a home in Toronto, where he once played for the NBA’s Raptors and was hugely popular among the fans.

He is now on the books of the San Antonio Spurs, but plans to eventually live in Ontario.

"It's definitely something that's on the top of my mind... to be able to have this opportunity to represent a country in that kind of setting," said Bonner to Raptors.com.

"It's not just my call though. We have to get all of the government paperwork stuff to go through.

“But (that stuff) is totally legit and viable (given that) my wife and I are living in Toronto and plan to live there."

The 6ft 10in Bonner made headlines when he played in Toronto for his play, but also because he did not own a car and instead relied on public transport.

His nickname while a player with the Raptors was the ‘Red Rocket’.

Now 30, this is an important year for Bonner for he will be out of contract after the season.

"The World Championships are at the end of the summer so hopefully I'll be signed and ready to go," said Bonner.

FIBA