SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Former SuperSonic working at Starbucks?

Jul 30, 2015, 11:35 AM | Updated: 12:24 pm

Former Seattle SuperSonic Vin Baker, 43, is reportedly working at a Starbucks in Rhode Island. (AP ...

Former Seattle SuperSonic Vin Baker, 43, is reportedly working at a Starbucks in Rhode Island. (AP file photo)

(AP file photo)

He couldn’t make a free-throw shot, but former SuperSonic Vin Baker is convinced an espresso shot is a different story.

Baker, 43, is reportedly working at a Starbucks in Rhode Island &#8212 working for the guy who sold the SuperSonics to Clay Bennett, no less.

To his credit, Baker was named to four NBA All-Star teams and made almost $100 million over the course of his career. But he fell onto hard times and struggled with alcoholism.

He told the Providence Journal:

“When you make choices and decisions and think that it will never end, and then you get into spending and addiction and more spending, it’s a definite formula for losing…. I would insist that you surround yourself with the person you trust the absolute most, someone who can tell you, ‘You’re wrong, don’t buy that, don’t go there, that person’s no good.’ I would also say be able to monitor every single dime that comes out of your accounts as if you’re a Starbucks barista.”

Not only is the father of four kids keeping a better eye on his money, he serves as a minister and is training to be a Starbucks manager.

“I hope Vin Baker bounces back, becomes a manager at Starbucks, and makes an honest living,” said KIRO Radio’s Ron Upshaw. “He can’t get the $100 million back, but it’s better than being an alcoholic.”

KIRO Radio co-host Don O’Neill said Baker could have run the other way and left those four kids, like his father did.

“He blew through all that money, but now he’s willing to stand up, take a job, be a barista, and do whatever he has to do … I think that’s good on Vin Baker because it’s hard to face your demons.”

“Now you just made me miss the Sonics,” said everyone (and Ron).

Let’s just hope whoever placed this sign on top of a Starbucks doesn’t hold a grudge against Baker, for his sake.

Seattle News Archives & Features

Andre Sayles (2) bite of seattle shooting suspect...

Tom Brock

Texts on hold: SPD delays Bite of Seattle shooting records

Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles says he needs more time before he can release the police department's internal communications the night of the deadly "Bite of Seattle" shootings.

13 days ago

Two alleged wire thieves caught in the act on Highway 12 near Aberdeen. Authorities estimate they d...

Tom Brock

Grounded: Grays Harbor deputies cut short highway wire heist

Deputies in Grays Harbor arrested two men Saturday for trying to steal hundreds of feet of wire along Highway 12.

13 days ago

A huge tree fell in the parking lot of Burien's Seahurst Park, crushing six vehicles....

Tom Brock

Fallen tree crushes parked cars at Burien’s Seahurst Park

A huge tree fell in the parking lot of Burien's Seahurst Park Monday and crushed six cars.

19 days ago

Two separate shootings in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood left two people dead and three others inj...

Tom Brock

Belltown violence: 2 separate shootings leave 2 dead, 3 injured early Sunday morning

Two separate shootings in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood overnight left two people dead and three others injured.

20 days ago

Associated Press

Teenager arrested and 5 others sought in deadly July 4 fire in Washington state

EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — An 18-year-old in Washington state has been arrested for the investigation of manslaughter and arson in connection with a deadly July 4 fire, a county sheriff said Thursday. The teen from Kent was among a group of people setting off illegal fireworks from the back of a truck when one […]

23 days ago

Authorities issued a Level 3, Go Now, evacuation advisory for a new wildfire called the Goat Fire i...

Tom Brock

EVACUATE NOW: Goat Fire spikes to Level 3 in Upper Cle Elum Valley

Authorities are ordering evacuations for a new fire, called the Goat Fire, in the Cle Elum Valley of the Cascade Mountains.

1 month ago

Former SuperSonic working at Starbucks?