Luke Ridnour facts for kids
Ridnour during his tenure with the Timberwolves
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 13, 1981 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S. |
| High school | Blaine (Blaine, Washington) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Oregon (2000–2003) |
| NBA Draft | 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Pro career | 2003–2015 |
| Career history | |
| 2003–2008 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 2008–2010 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2010–2013 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2013–2014 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2014 | Charlotte Bobcats |
| 2014–2015 | Orlando Magic |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 7,740 (9.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,877 (2.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,713 (4.5 apg) |
Lukas Robin Ridnour (born February 13, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Luke was known for being a skilled point guard who helped his teams with scoring and passing. He also played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks before joining the NBA.
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Early Life and High School Success
Luke Ridnour was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He grew up in Blaine, Washington. His dad, Rob, was his basketball coach in high school. His father gave him special access to the gym. This meant Luke could practice basketball whenever he wanted, even late at night!
Thanks to his hard work, Luke helped his team at Blaine High School win two state championships. In 2000, his graduation year, he was named a high school All-American. This is a special honor for top high school athletes.
College Basketball Career
After high school, Ridnour became a star player at the University of Oregon. He played alongside other talented players like Luke Jackson and Fred Jones. Together, they led the Oregon Ducks to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament twice. In 2002, they even reached the "Elite 8," which is the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Luke set a school record for assists in one season with 218. He also made 62 free throws in a row, which was a conference record! He averaged 19.7 points and 6.6 assists per game. Ridnour left Oregon after his junior year. In his final college year, he was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Seattle SuperSonics (2003–2008)
Luke Ridnour was chosen as the 14th pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He didn't play much in his first year. However, in the 2004–05 season, he became the team's main point guard.
In 2005, Luke took part in the NBA All-Star weekend. He played in the Rookie Challenge and the Skills Challenge. During the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Ridnour and the Sonics made it to the conference semifinals. He played well, averaging 10.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. His team was eventually eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs, who went on to win the championship. On November 13, 2006, Luke scored a career-high 32 points in a game against the New Jersey Nets.
Moving to the Milwaukee Bucks (2008–2010)
On August 13, 2008, Luke Ridnour was part of a big trade involving three teams. He moved from the Sonics (who became the Oklahoma City Thunder) to the Milwaukee Bucks. He played for the Bucks for two seasons. On January 22, 2010, he scored 27 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors.
Time with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2010–2013)
On July 21, 2010, Ridnour signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He continued to be a key player for his team. On February 22, 2012, he made a game-winning shot right at the buzzer against the Utah Jazz.
Back to Milwaukee (2013–2014)
On July 11, 2013, Luke was traded back to the Milwaukee Bucks. This was part of another three-team trade.
Short Stays with Charlotte and Orlando (2014–2015)
On February 20, 2014, Ridnour was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. He played there for a short time. Then, on July 25, 2014, he signed with the Orlando Magic. His last NBA game was on April 1, 2015.
Retirement and a Wild Week of Trades
In June 2015, Luke Ridnour became famous for something unusual. He was traded four times in just six days!
- On June 24, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
- On June 25, the Grizzlies sent him to the Charlotte Hornets.
- Later that same day, he was traded again to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Finally, on June 30, Ridnour was traded to the Toronto Raptors.
Luke found the whole situation "funny." He and his family were at home in Seattle watching all the trades happen. On July 9, 2015, the Raptors decided to release him. This meant he never actually played for any of those teams during that busy two-week period!
On September 21, 2015, Luke announced he would not play in the 2015–16 season. On June 22, 2016, Luke Ridnour officially announced his retirement from professional basketball.
Personal Life
Luke Ridnour is a Christian. He has talked about his faith, saying that his relationship with God brings him true peace and happiness. He believes this is more important than success, fame, or money.
See also
In Spanish: Luke Ridnour para niños
- List of National Basketball Association career free throw percentage leaders
