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Gael Bonilla

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Bonilla and the second or maternal family name is Silva.
Gael Bonilla
No. 2 – Ángeles de la Ciudad de México
PositionShooting guard
LeagueCIBACOPA
Personal information
Born (2003-02-26) 26 February 2003 (age 22)
Ecatepec, State of Mexico, Mexico
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolColegio San Carlos
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022FC Barcelona Bàsquet
2023Mexico City Capitanes
2023–2024Cáceres Ciudad del Baloncesto
2024Diablos Rojos del México
2025–Ángeles de la Ciudad de México
Career highlights
  • LNBP Rookie of the Year (2024)
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Yahir Gael Bonilla Silva (born 26 February 2003) is a Mexican professional basketball player for the Ángeles de la Ciudad de México of the CIBACOPA, and the Mexican national team. He is considered one of the most promising young talents of Mexican basketball.[1]

Early years

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Bonilla is the youngest of two siblings born to Edgar Bonilla and Paola Silva, and grew up in the Jardines de Morelos neighborhood. His father played a key role in his decision to pursue basketball. From a very young age, Bonilla stood out on the court thanks to his father and his brother, Rasheed, with whom he would play 21-point games for hours.[citation needed]

Bonilla played basketball at Colegio San Carlos, which later retired his No. 7 jersey.[citation needed] His arrival in Spain was the result of three consecutive years of participation in Giovanni Rivera's camp. In 2012, at nine years old, Bonilla caught the attention of Canarias Basketball Academy. He then drew the attention of the two most popular and powerful teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, signing with the latter ahead of the next season of the Spanish championship in the Cadete category (under-16).[2]

Professional career

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In the 2020/21 season, Bonilla was part of the FC Barcelona Bàsquet B team, playing 14 matches in the Segunda FEB and the Adidas Next Generation circuit. He participated in seven games in this circuit, starting three, and averaged 10.3 points on 55 percent shooting, 77.8 percent from the free-throw line, and 28 percent from three-point range. Bonilla finished the Adidas NGT season as the second-leading scorer and assist leader for Barcelona, and was third in rebounds. In the 2021/22 season, he remained in the FC Barcelona B team, playing in the Liga EBA. In 24 games, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2 steals per game. He was called up to the first team for two Euroleague games, making his debut on March 25 against Fenerbahçe. In the 2022/23 season, he stayed with the Barcelona B team, starting the season and playing six games, averaging 14.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 3.5 assists, and 1 block, being one of the standout players in the competition before leaving in early January.[3]

On January 7, 2023, Bonilla signed with the Mexico City Capitanes for the 2022-2023 NBA G League season.[4] He became the third active Mexican player in the franchise, joining Moisés Andriassi and Orlando Méndez-Valdez. Bonilla played 20 games, averaging 2.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in almost 11 minutes per game, before returning to FC Barcelona in March.

In April 2023, he announced his intention to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft, but withdrew his name a few days before the event.[5]

After parting ways with FC Barcelona, on June 28, 2023, he signed with Cáceres Ciudad del Baloncesto, a team in the Spanish second-tier Liga LEB Oro.[6] During the 2023/24 season, he played 33 games, averaging 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.

On May 21, 2024, he was announced as the first signing in the history of the Diablos Rojos del México in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP).[7]

On February 4, 2025, he signed with the Ángeles de la Ciudad de México of the CIBACOPA.[8]

National team career

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Bonilla attended the pre-selection training camp for the U-15 national team ahead of the Centrobasket. However, he was unable to attend the next pre-selection camp due to a commitment with FC Barcelona.[citation needed] Bonilla led Mexico to a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA U17 Centrobasket, recording 18 points and 13 rebounds in the final.[9]

Bonilla earned a silver medal at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.[citation needed] He later played in the 2023 FIBA World Cup held in Asia, where they finished in 25th place.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Gael Bonilla, la joya del basquetbol mexicano que se abrió paso desde Ecatepec" (in Spanish). Sopitas. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Garay, Enrique. "Gael Bonilla, el joven mexicano que juega con Barcelona" (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Gael Bonilla: "Salí de Barcelona porque necesitaba jugar, no podía seguir otro año así"" (in Spanish). AS. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "NBA: Gael Bonilla debutó con los Capitanes en la CDMX en triunfo sobre Austin Spurs" (in Spanish). Récord. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "Gael Bonilla se retira del Draft NBA 2023" (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "El Cáceres incorpora al joven alero mexicano Gael Bonilla" (in Spanish). El Periódico. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "Gael Bonilla, primer fichaje de los Diablos Rojos de la LNBP" (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "Ángeles Ciudad de México anuncia fichaje bomba para la temporada 2025: ¡Gael Bonilla se une al equipo!" (in Spanish). México en la Red. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "México es campeón del Centrobasket Sub 17" (in Spanish). El Imparcial. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  10. ^ "El blaugrana Bonilla contribuye a la victoria de México sobre el Team USA" (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved May 9, 2020. [failed verification]
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