Nick Collison

Nick Collison
Collison with the Thunder
Personal information
Born (1980-10-26) October 26, 1980
Orange City, Iowa
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school Iowa Falls (Iowa Falls, Iowa)
College Kansas (1999–2003)
NBA draft 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Playing career 2003–2018
Position Power forward / Center
Number 4
Career history
20032018 Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points 5,359 (5.9 ppg)
Rebounds 4,701 (5.2 rpg)
Assists 939 (1.0 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Nicholas John Collison (born October 26, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who played his entire 14-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder franchise. He was drafted by the SuperSonics in the 2003 NBA draft and retired as a member of the Thunder in 2018. As a college player, he went to two Final Fours with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Early life and high school career

Collison was born in Orange City, Iowa and grew up in Fort Dodge and Iowa Falls. He attended Iowa Falls High School and was a McDonald's All-American in 1999.

College career

Teaming with fellow Iowan Kirk Hinrich to form one of the best duos in college basketball, Collison helped KU reach two consecutive Final Fours (2002 and 2003). Collison finished his college career as the leading scorer in the history of the Big 12 Conference (since passed by Andre Emmett). In 2003, his Jayhawks lost to Carmelo Anthony and the Syracuse Orange in the National Championship game, 81–78. He also played for the United States national team at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.[1]

Collison's #4 jersey was retired by the Kansas Jayhawks on November 25, 2003 during halftime of the Kansas-Michigan State game in recognition of his achievements over his four-year career (2002–03 Player of the Year, consensus first-team All-America, Big 12 Player of the Year).[2]

Professional career

Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder (2003–2018)

Collison in a game with the Thunder

Collison was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 12th overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, but missed the 2003–04 season with injuries to both shoulders. He made his NBA debut on November 3, 2004, recording two points, five rebounds and two assists in a 114–84 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He appeared in all 82 games in his rookie season, averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per game.[3] He played in all 82 games for a second time during the 2006–07 season. On January 9, 2007, he had a career-best game with 29 points and 21 rebounds in a 113–102 loss to the Phoenix Suns.[4] In 2008, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City and rebranded as the Thunder. In 2012, he helped the Thunder reach the NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

On February 3, 2015, Collison signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Thunder.[5][6] In May 2016, he helped the Thunder reach the 2016 NBA Western Conference Finals against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, whom had finished with the best-ever regular season record in the NBA.

On July 21, 2017, Collison re-signed with the Thunder to a one-year, minimum salary deal.[7][8]

On May 10, 2018, Collison announced his retirement from professional basketball, leaving Jeff Green and Kevin Durant as the last remaining active players who played for the Sonics.[9]

Personal life

After the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City, Collison continued to make his home in Seattle.[10][11]

Collison has a daughter named Emma.[12][13] His younger brother, Michael, played college basketball for their father's alma mater, Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.[14]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004–05 Seattle 82417.0.537.000.7034.6.4.4.65.6
2005–06 Seattle 662721.9.525.000.6995.61.1.3.57.5
2006–07 Seattle 825629.0.500.000.7748.11.0.6.89.6
2007–08 Seattle 783528.5.502.000.7379.41.4.6.89.8
2008–09 Oklahoma City 714025.8.568.000.7216.9.9.7.78.2
2009–10 Oklahoma City 75520.8.589.250.6925.1.5.5.65.9
2010–11 Oklahoma City 71221.5.566.7534.51.0.6.44.6
2011–12 Oklahoma City 63020.7.597.000.7104.31.3.5.44.5
2012–13 Oklahoma City 81219.5.595.000.7694.11.5.6.45.1
2013–14 Oklahoma City 81016.7.556.235.7103.61.3.4.34.2
2014–15 Oklahoma City 66216.7.419.267.6923.81.4.5.44.1
2015–16 Oklahoma City 59411.8.459.000.6972.9.9.3.32.1
2016–17 Oklahoma City 2006.4.609000.6251.6.5.1.11.7
2017–18 Oklahoma City 1505.0.684.3851.3.3.0.02.1
Career 91017720.4.534.208.7235.21.0.5.55.9

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2005 Seattle 11019.8.6071.000.6305.0.5.3.58.4
2010 Oklahoma City 6021.5.333.000.4294.7.3.8.23.2
2011 Oklahoma City 17024.3.632.000.7835.8.9.9.96.7
2012 Oklahoma City 20016.6.647.000.4293.41.0.6.33.5
2013 Oklahoma City 11016.2.468.000.9174.61.1.51.05.0
2014 Oklahoma City 17210.8.414.400.7002.2.8.2.41.9
2016 Oklahoma City 908.8.667.000.5001.2.6.9.01.0
Career 91216.8.558.429.6823.8.8.6.54.3

See also

References

  1. Collison Named Alternate On USA World Championship Team
  2. COLLISON'S JERSEY TO BE RETIRED
  3. "Nick Collison 2004-05 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  4. "Suns Win Seventh Straight, Beat Sonics". NBA.com. January 10, 2007. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  5. Thunder Signs Nick Collison to Contract Extension
  6. Thunder sign Nick Collison to two-year, nearly $8 million contract extension
  7. Thunder Signs Nick Collison
  8. Thunder announce Nick Collison will stay in Oklahoma City
  9. Gallo, Nick (May 10, 2018). "Seeing Off a True Pro – Thunder Fan Favorite Nick Collison Retires". NBA.com. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  10. Collison reflects on Sonics' relocation
  11. Need a view? Nick Collison's Queen Anne home "without rival"
  12. The Nick Collison Guest Blog, Vol. 1: How I Spent My (Extended) Summer Vacation
  13. "Super Sonic Wedding Superb! Doing it Right at Court in the Square, Hotel 1000, and Pravda!". JanetKlinger.com. August 20, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  14. #33 Michael Collison
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