For the Love of a White Guy

Ever notice how Luke Ridnour gets the loudest applause at Key Arena? It’s kind of strange since the 5-year NBA vet is one of the worst Sonics point guards to actually start or get playing time in team history. Laying claim to the lowest field goal percentage among a miserable cast of point guards on one of the worst teams in the league should be a recipe for early retirement; Ridnour even trails our rookies in that very department, but still the cheers rain down for the cute, little white boy from Blaine.

Ridnour’s numbers don’t show the intangible depths of futility he brings to the court when healthy enough to suit up: the timid play, the unwillingness to take a big shot, the lack of respect opposing defenses grant him because they know he doesn’t want to shoot. The third-best point guard on every other NBA team is anxiously anticipating the inevitable reassignment to the developmental league (see former first-round pick Sene) and is certainly not a fan favorite, much less making $6.5 million a year.

Last night as the Sonics choked away a team record twelfth loss in a row, the disappointment that is fan favorite Luke Ridnour was on full display. With just under a minute to play and the Sonics down by 1, Ridnour ran a high screen and roll with Nick Collison and found himself at the rim with a very makeable lay up opportunity only to wildly throw the ball off the backboard and give the possession back to Tracy McGrady, who unlike Ridnour and the rest of the Sonics for that matter, is accustomed to finishing games and did just that, nailing a three to extend the misery that is the 2007-2008 Sonics season.

Seattlest hasn’t been this disappointed with an over-hyped local talent since Chris Cornell sold his soul and started making middle of the road, Nickelbackesque shit rock.

photo courtesy of Kyle Horner