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There is a simplicity to Luke Ridnour and his passion for basketball that contrasts his multifaceted abilities on the court.
"I just want to play," the Sonics rookie point guard is prone to say.
No matter the question. No matter the subject. The answers are generally the
same.
His five-month layoff because of an abdominal strain didn't cause him to muse eccentrically about why the injury was delaying his professional career or ponder his new role on his new team.
The time away only intensified Ridnour's desire, making Thursday — the
first day in which he'll be allowed to fully participate in practice —
the most important day in his young NBA life. Ticketmaster
If all goes well, Ridnour will make his Sonics debut on Saturday when Seattle
plays Portland at the Spokane Arena.
"I'm just looking forward to getting a chance to get out and play with
the guys," he said yesterday. "I'm tired of watching them and ready
to play."
Coach Nate McMillan shares Ridnour's sentiment. He has only seen the Sonics'
first-round draft pick (14th overall) play on television and videotape when
Ridnour starred at Oregon.
So far, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard has been limited in workouts. Every
so often, he'll join a drill, but his quickness had been absent. Ridnour said
that trainers told him to hold back, fearing he may aggravate the injury. Ticketmaster
After most practices, Ridnour will shoot for several minutes. Yesterday, he
and free-agent guard Richie Frahm took part in an impromptu three-point contest.
Frahm, the career three-point field goals leader at Gonzaga University, was
nearly perfect and Ridnour matched him shot for shot.
However, the Sonics drafted Ridnour for his ability to create shots for others.
McMillan thinks the guard, who ranks third all-time at Oregon in assists, will
have a smooth transition to the NBA.
"He'll have to catch up because he'll be behind," McMillan said. "He's
smart enough to pick up what we want to do."
James sits, Booth steps in
Perhaps it's just a coincidence. That's what McMillan will say.
Still, there seems to be a correlation between center Calvin Booth's insertion
into the starting lineup and Jerome James' three lackluster exhibition performances.
The Sonics' coach denied the assumption. Ticketmaster
"I'm not making a move to discipline him or send a message," he said.
"I just want to look at a combination."
To say that James has struggled this exhibition season would be an understatement.
He has more fouls (14) than points (12) or rebounds (nine).
And Booth has done little to warrant a promotion. In the exhibition opener,
Booth finished with five fouls, five rebounds, three blocked shots and two points
in 17 minutes.
The Sonics had hoped that committing cheap fouls were in James' past and hired
ex-Sonics great Jack Sikma to tutor the 7-foot-1 center.
So far, nothing has worked.
"He has to learn," McMillan said. "That's not me. We're talking
to him about giving a step to defenders and what's a good foul and what's a
cheap foul."
Collison surgery today
Forward Nick Collison will undergo surgery today in New York to repair a left
dislocated shoulder.
Collison, selected 12th overall in the NBA draft, will miss the season while
he rehabilitates. In December, he is expected to have preventive surgery on
his right shoulder.
Note
• The Sonics released free-agent forwards Matt Barnes and Sam Hoskin,
leaving four players with non-guaranteed contracts on the roster: Frahm, F/C
Mikki Moore, and PGs Jason Hart and Galen Young. Ticketmaster
NBA teams must have rosters set by Oct. 27.