Nick Collison is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Seattle SuperSonics and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on October 26, 1980, in Orange City, Iowa, and attended the University of Kansas, where he played college basketball for the Jayhawks.
Collison was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 12th overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He played for the SuperSonics for his first ten seasons in the league, from 2003 to 2008. During his time with the SuperSonics, Collison established himself as a reliable and versatile player, known for his rebounding, defense, and ability to score from mid-range.
In 2008, the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. Collison continued to play for the Thunder for the remainder of his career, from 2008 to 2018. He was a key member of the Thunder's early teams, which included future NBA MVPs Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Collison was known for his leadership and professionalism, and he was a fan favorite in Oklahoma City.
Throughout his career, Collison was a consistent contributor on the court, averaging 5.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He was also known for his durability, playing in 910 out of a possible 1,026 regular season games over his 15-year career.
Collison was never a star player in the NBA, but he was highly respected by his teammates, coaches, and fans for his work ethic, character, and team-first mentality. He was a valuable role player who did whatever was asked of him to help his team win.
In recognition of his contributions to the Thunder organization, the team retired Collison's jersey number 4 in March 2019. Collison retired from the NBA in May 2018, and he currently works as a consultant for the Thunder.
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