Two hours before the game started and before any fans had entered the Rose Garden, he was among his teammates in the shoot around. He stayed on the court for about an hour, practicing his mid-range jumper and stretching out.
As he headed towards the locker room, he was bombarded by several requests for autographs.
Seattle rookie Luke Ridnour took the time to sign each one until all the young fans were satisfied.
“It’s like that everywhere you go,” he said.
Then just before game time, Ridnour went to chapel. Part of Ridnour’s routine is taking the time to write a Bible scripture on the inside of his left forearm before every game.
This time it was 1 Corinthians 10:31, which states, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
“He’s got strong faith, both in himself and in his religion,” veteran Seattle guard Brent Barry said of Ridnour.
At the start of the second quarter, the former Duck stepped onto the court for his first return to Portland as a professional athlete. As Ridnour stepped onto the floor, an echo of “Luuuuuke” took the air that was eerily reminiscent of McArthur Court.
“It’s always good to hear the fans are still here,” Ridnour said after the game. “That’s always exciting for me. I haven’t been gone that long, but just to know they’re still here, it’s always fun.”
Ridnour played 17 minutes for the SuperSonics in Portland’s 95-85 win on Sunday. He grabbed five rebounds on the defensive end and had two points and two assists.
He’s learning.
“It’s too early to make a judgment on him,” Seattle head coach Nate McMillan said. “He has had some good games and some games where he’s struggled. You expect that out of a first-year player. I like what I see when he’s on the floor. I’m comfortable with him being out on the floor. It’s just a matter of giving him an opportunity to play.”
Ridnour is averaging just less than 16 minutes a game for a Seattle (24-26) team that is struggling in the playoff race. It’s a different lifestyle for the 2003 Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year who helped lead Oregon to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
“It’s been tough,” Ridnour said of being on the bench. “The Lord has been teaching me things and keeping me ready and teaching me patience and just knowing my time will come.”
In his rookie season, Ridnour is averaging 5.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He backs up guard Antonio Daniels off the bench.
Although Ridnour’s minutes have changed, his speed hasn’t. Ridnour says that Seattle doesn’t play as fast as the Ducks did, but his teammates believe otherwise.
“I know when I’m out on the floor with him and he gets the ball, he’s always pushing it,” forward Rashard Lewis said. “Once I see him catch it, I’m running as fast as possible because I know he’s an up-tempo player.”
Barry, who is currently on the injured list, put Ridnour’s speed in perspective.
“And guys understand, when you’re playing with Luke Ridnour, if you’re running down the court and you don’t have your hands up … you might end up with a broken nose or a jammed finger. He’s going to find you,” Barry said.
“He’s got such great court sense and great vision out there, that if you cut and move and you’re open, Luke is going to make your job easier for you.”
Ridnour is living his dream. A native of Blaine, Wash., Ridnour was given the opportunity to play for the local team when he was selected by Seattle as the 14th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
After finishing as last year’s Pac-10 Tournament MVP, Ridnour decided to forego his senior season and enter the NBA. Entering the draft, he was criticized on his size and his
defensive capabilities.
“Everybody talks about how he can’t defend and how he’s small — just watch Luke play and you start to understand he knows the game of basketball,” Barry said. “And anybody as smart as he is is going to find a way to get the job done.”
As of late, Ridnour has helped his team get the job done.
In Friday’s game against Phoenix, Ridnour handed out the game-winning assist and scored 11 points. McMillan said that Ridnour, “was very poised doing that.”
Ridnour said he doesn’t miss Eugene, except for all his friends, and he has never regretted the decision of passing up his senior season.

He had quite the fan base on Sunday. Along with all the kids screaming for autographs, several of the Oregon players showed up to see if their old teammate still had the moves.
The Duck even showed up and participated in the on-court festivities.
Ridnour has proved to his new teammates that he is ready to compete in this league and on this level.
“To be a rookie and show the signs of greatness that he’s going to have, I think he’s most definitely going to be a point guard in this league and be one the best point guards in the league in the future,” Lewis said.
Ridnour convinced his opponents of his abilities as well. At times, Ridnour was matched up with Portland’s Damon Stoudamire in the fourth quarter. More than once, Ridnour was able to split the double-team of Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace and break to the hoop.
“Luke is in a tough position down there in Seattle because they’re trying to get into the playoffs and he’s playing in a crowded backcourt,” Stoudamire said. “He just needs to continue to work hard, he’ll improve and I know he’ll be a main-stay in this league.”
Ridnour has impressed from the very beginning. In his first career start, he scored a career-high 17 points against Denver and earned 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds against New York.
Ridnour has scored in double figures in 14 games this season and lead his team in assists four times. He said his most difficult transition into the NBA hasn’t been physical.
“Mentally, there’s just so many games and you got to be ready to play every game,” Ridnour said. “In college you play two, you get a week off … just being mentally ready all the time (is important).”
It hasn’t been the easiest adjustment, but he’s doing what he loves. Ridnour’s days at Oregon are mere memories and he has proved to his teammates and opposing ones that he is in the NBA to stay.
Ridnour has shown a strong work ethic and consistency that has impressed his teammates. And he’s proved to his coach how tough of a player he is.
But as with any rookie, Ridnour still has plenty to learn.
“And he’s cheap,” Barry said. “I don’t think he understands. When we go on road trips and stuff, rookies are supposed to pay for meals; they’re supposed to pay for room service for veteran players. This is something I’m trying to instill in him before the year’s over with.”