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Kansas Jayhawks Basketball: Nick Collison retiring after 15 NBA seasons with the OKC Thunder

By Chris Taylor

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 11: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder acknowledges Nick Collison #4 before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 11, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 11: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder acknowledges Nick Collison #4 before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 11, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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One of the All-time great Kansas Jayhawks is retiring from the NBA after 15 seasons. Nick Collison spent his entire career with the OKC Thunder.

Nick Collison has always been a fan favorite. During both his time in Lawrence playing for the Kansas Jayhawks and his entire career with the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, the fans loved him.

Nick Collison was a McDonald’s All-American in 1999 out of Iowa Falls, Iowa. Over four years at the University of Kansas, he became the leading scorer in Big 12 history (since passed). He helped the Kansas Jayhawks go to back-to-back Final Fours in 2002 and 2003. Collison was the NABC Player of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year, and a first-team All-American his senior year in 2003.

Rockchalktalk.com has Collison ranked 2nd all-time at Kansas in scoring and 3rd in rebounding. That’s impressive at any school, but at a place like Kansas, with the many ghosts and legends that have walked through the locker room at Allen Fieldhouse, it’s remarkable.

Nick currently ranks 7th in Big 12 points scored, leading all Jayhawks in that category. He ranks 5th in blocks, 2nd in rebounds, and 1st in win shares according to sportsreference.com. His No. 4 jersey has been retired since 2003, hanging from the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.

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The Seattle Supersonics drafted Collison with the 12th pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. After five seasons in Seattle, the franchise packed its bags for the Midwest in 2008.

As a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, he averaged 5.9 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. These numbers are far away from Hall of Fame or All-Star numbers, but he was always one of the most valuable members of the team. He became the ultimate role player for Oklahoma City. It seemed like every time they called on him, he came through. This quickly made him a fan favorite as he became Mr. Thunder.

Nick Collison was a special player, but an even more special person in the NBA. This became evident when he announced his retirement. His Kansas Jayhawk family came out in abundance, his teammates shared their thoughts, players, owners, analysts, and teams across the NBA congratulated him. The response was overwhelming as if one of the true greats had called it quits.

Collison is a true great. Ask any of his teammates, past or present, and they will say the same. He defined the word teammate over the last 15 years. He selflessly worked just as hard as everyone else behind the scenes. As his veteran status matured, he would constantly be taking rookies under his wing. He played the role of the old wise owl to perfection.

He played such a huge role in practice and player development that with each Thunder win, he would get some credit, even if he never stripped the sideline hoodie off. As one of the most likable players in the NBA by his peers, he gained the respect of the entire league.

There were very few that would suggest he ever needed to retire. As long as he wanted to play, his teammates, his owner, his city, and his fans were more than willing to keep him around. His value to the Thunder was never appreciated as much as it is now that he cut down the nets on his own career.

Collison left his very own legacy. A legacy molded by patience, acknowledgment of role, and pure desire to be part of something. Every single time Collison saw the court these last two seasons, where he appeared in only 35 games, the crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena would go completely nuts. Each point and rebound would reach the audible noise similar to a game-winning shot.

It may have taken some time, but the fans at Oklahoma City understood what Nick Collison meant to the franchise, as the last standing connection to Seattle continued to put on a jersey year after year. It may be fair to say that in a sense, Nick will be missed in Oklahoma City more than Kevin Durant, in a sense.

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Congratulations on a long and fruitful career Nick, may the rest of your life be lived to your liking. Once a Jayhawk, always a Jayhawk. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for giving the country a good guy to root for.

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