Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM
Before the start of the 2004-05 season, you probably could have gotten pretty good odds that the only member of the Seattle SuperSonics to start all 82 games would be second-year guard
Luke Ridnour. Given his slight 6-2, 175-pound frame and the fact that he had suffered injuries during the summers before and after his rookie year in the NBA, Ridnour wasn't a great bet to play 2,500 NBA minutes in his second season. But that's exactly what he did.
Publicly, Sonics Coach 
Nate McMillan opened training camp last fall saying the point guard position was up for grabs. Privately, he knew he wanted to start Ridnour, a decision made on the flight home after the Sonics concluded the 2003-04 regular season and reinforced over the summer when McMillan watched the FSN "Before the Bigs" feature on Ridnour and was reminded of his point guard prodigy's dedication to the game.
Ridnour played well in the preseason and in training camp, but struggled with his shot. That was followed by an 0-for-8 performance from the field in the Sonics season-opening loss to the L.A. Clippers. When the Sonics returned home to take on the Atlanta Hawks, 
Antonio Daniels, not Ridnour, was listed as the Sonics starter at the point. Whether it was an error or a change of heart by McMillan or what, Ridnour started and had nine points and six assists in a Sonics win.
A key in Ridnour's development came when the Sonics committed to using him and Daniels together in the backcourt with reserve guard 
Ronald "Flip" Murray on the injured list. Paired with another ballhandler, Ridnour had more freedom, and he had nine points and 11 assists at Denver on Nov. 9 and followed it up with a career-high-tying 17 points the next night against Sacramento. From that point onward, Ridnour's starting job was secure.
That's not to say there weren't ups and downs in Ridnour's season. He was at his best during the Sonics 17-3 start to the season, recording consecutive double-doubles on Nov. 30 at Portland and Dec. 1 vs. Utah and handing out double-figures assists five times in November and December (he would do so nine times for the season).
In January, Ridnour began looking for his shot more. He averaged 11.7 points per game during the month, his high for the season. Late in the month, Ridnour scored double-figures in five straight games, tying for his longest stretch of the season. Averaging 10.2 points and 6.0 assists as of the All-Star Break, Ridnour was selected for the sophomore team in the got milk? Rookie Challenge and for the Playstation Skills Challenge, scoring 12 points in the game and finishing third in the skills competition.
By the second half of the season, however, minutes had begun to take their toll on Ridnour. He battled plantar fasciitis and was also bothered by back spasms. However, Ridnour never missed a game or even had to leave early because of the ailments. After struggling through 2-for-18 shooting over three games late in February, Ridnour responded with a strong March. He had 14 points and a career-high 12 assists on Mar. 8 against Houston. Two weeks later, he set his career mark for scoring with 21 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ridnour went in the postseason strong, having scored double-figures eight times in his last nine regular-season games (falling short when he played only 24 minutes in the meaningless season finale). Still, he really struggled in the early going against Sacramento, scoring nine points on 2-for-17 shooting in the first two games of the series. Ridnour stayed at it and had 15 points in Game 3. He then had a very solid all-around performance in Game 5, with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists - including the highlight play of the season on a wraparound behind-the-back pass from halfcourt to a streaking 
Rashard Lewis, who dunked - as the Sonics clinched the series.
Again a focal point in the Western Conference Semifinals against San Antonio, Ridnour averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 assists per game over the series. (The latter mark was affected by the Sonics playing three-guard lineups regularly.) He had a huge Game 4, scoring 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting and handing out six assists.
Overall, it was an outstanding sophomore campaign for Ridnour as he established himself as the Sonics starting point guard now and for the foreseeable future. He ranked in the NBA's top 20 in every major assist-related category - assists per game (5.9, 16th); assists per 48 minutes (9.0, 12th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.24; 11th) - while finishing seventh in free-throw percentage (88.3%). He capably led one of the NBA's most complex offenses and proved adept on the pick-and-roll. He also conclusively answered questions about his durability. For his efforts, Ridnour received 14 points in Most Improved Player voting, including a first-place vote.
For 2005-06, the Sonics will look to have Ridnour improve his shooting and increase his role in the offense. While Ridnour shot a fine 37.6% from 3-point range, he attempted only a little more than two triples a game. Ridnour's 41.4% two-point shooting also stands to improve as he continues to learn how to finish in traffic amongst the NBA's trees.
2004-05 Highlights:
Had 14 points and career-high 12 assists vs. Houston on Mar. 8.
Scored career-high 21 points and handed out nine assists vs. Milwaukee on Mar. 22.
Scored 20 points vs. San Antonio in Game 4 of Western Conference Semifinals.
Only Sonics player to start all 82 games.
Recorded four double-doubles.
SUPERSONICS.COM Player of the Week:
Nov. 29-Dec. 5
