Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ridnour gives God glory

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ridnour gives God glory

A full-court press by security guards made Luke Ridnour call for backup during his rookie season in the NBA.

“I could never get to the locker room, because they didn’t think I played because of the way I looked,” said Ridnour, a 6-foot-2-inch, 175-pound guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I used to have to get the manager or trainer to tell them I played. That was funny.”

Even now, Ridnour, who has been in the league for 10 years, gets stopped by security guards telling him he can’t go to the team bus.

But Ridnour says he’s not playing for the recognition — he’s playing to give God glory.

“When you play for the Lord, you just let your light shine,” he said. “I am playing for an audience of One. That’s all that matters. I want to represent Him and speak of His goodness while I’m here. I think that is why I’m here, to give Him glory.”

He wears a blue and white bracelet that states, “In Jesus Name I Play.”

Ridnour first played for the Seattle SuperSonics during the 2003–04 season after being chosen 14th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Later in two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged 9.6 points in 2008–09 and 10.4 points in 2009–10 while sinking a career-high 91 percent of free throws.

Ridnour was traded to the Timberwolves in 2010 and hit .440 percent of 3-pointers (fourth best in the NBA) during 2010–11. He averaged a career-high 12.1 points in 2011–12 and dished out his 3,000th assist. During the 2012–13 season, he reached another milestone, scoring his 7,000th career point. He averaged 11.5 points.

“You play to get better and better each year,” he said. “You continue to stay consistent night in and night out.”

Through the ups and downs of a long season, Ridnour stays consistent in his spiritual life. His goal is to “stay faithful to God” and allow God to minister to him and his family.

Ridnour and his wife, Kate, faced some uncertain moments when their twins were born two years ago. There were complications with Kyson and Beckett. 

“We continued to trust in Him,” Ridnour said. “You just have to keep persevering like the Word says. Perseverance is huge. You just continually look at Him and not circumstances.”    

Ridnour desires to have a Christlike home. 

“My wife is awesome,” he said. “Us having three boys (their oldest son, Traden, is 3) and trying to raise them in the Lord has been a lot of fun.”

Ridnour wants to be guided by the Holy Spirit and uses the Bible to assist him.

Among “tons” of favorites are Romans 8:28, John 1:8–9, 1 Corinthians 10:31 — “So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” — and Micah 6:8 — “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Ridnour believes God’s purpose for his life is to share the gospel and do ministry by loving people, which he says Christians need to do more.

Ridnour, 32, became a Christian when he was 7 through the influence of his parents, Rob and Muriel Ridnour. When he was a child, he saw a movie about LSU legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich, which taught him of Maravich’s commitment to play for Christ.

Throughout the season, Ridnour invites teammates to chapel services and speaks with them about spiritual truths.

Ridnour’s faith is evident to Minnesota teammates and opponents. Timberwolves center Greg Stiemsma called it “incredible.” 

“We know that he does a lot of stuff off the court, going to prisons and sharing his testimony,” said Stiemsma, who is a Christian.

Forward Chris Johnson said Ridnour is “an all-around good person. He is somebody you want to be like on and off the court. He is definitely real, how he carries himself. He is a great family person.”

Memphis point guard Mike Conley was not surprised to learn of Ridnour’s faith. 

“He seems like a good, genuine person,” Conley said.

On the court, the Timberwolves have relied on Ridnour’s ball-handling ability, open shot selection and team-first approach. He was the only Minnesota player to have started all 82 games this past season.

“He brings leadership,” Johnson said. “He comes out and plays hard every night.”

Ridnour’s even temper is a calming influence on teammates, Stiemsma said. 

“He is a good guy to have in the locker room.”

For Ridnour to be in the league as long as he has is a testament to his work ethic. 

“He has the ability to adjust to any situation he has been in,” Conley said. “He has been on different teams and has done well everywhere he has gone. He is a true professional.”

During his rookie season, Ridnour was baptized at First Love Church, Seattle.

“Actions are the way you’ve got to represent the Lord,” he said. “Christ is everything for me. It’s who I am. Christ is how you encounter the love of God. It changes your life forever no matter what situation you are in or what path you might be headed down. Nothing is impossible with God.”