 Collison with theOklahoma City Thunder in March 2010 | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | |
|---|---|
| Position | Special assistant |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1980-10-26)October 26, 1980 (age 44) Orange City, Iowa, U.S. |
| 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: 1st round, 12th overall pick |
| Selected by theSeattle SuperSonics | |
| Playing career | 2003–2018 |
| Position | Power forward /center |
| Number | 4 |
| Career history | |
| 2003–2018 | 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 NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Nicholas John Collison (born October 26, 1980) is an American former professionalbasketball player who is a special assistant for theOklahoma City Thunder of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). Hespent his entire career with the organization originally known as theSeattle SuperSonics, which became theOklahoma City Thunder in 2008. Collison was drafted by the SuperSonics in the first round of the2003 NBA draft and retired as a member of the Thunder in 2018. As a college player, he went to twoFinal Fours as a member of theKansas Jayhawks.
Collison was born inOrange City, Iowa and grew up inFort Dodge andIowa Falls. He attended Iowa Falls High School and was aMcDonald's All-American in 1999.
Teaming with fellow IowanKirk Hinrich to form one of the best duos in college basketball, Collison helped the University of Kansas reach two consecutiveFinal Fours (2002 and 2003). Collison finished his college career as the leading scorer in the history of theBig 12 Conference (a mark since surpassed). In 2003, the Jayhawks lost toCarmelo Anthony and theSyracuse Orange in the National Championship game, 81–78. Collison also played for theUnited States national team at the2002 FIBA World Championship.[1]
Collison's No. 4 jersey was retired by the Jayhawks on November 25, 2003, during halftime of theKansas-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]
Collison was selected by theSeattle SuperSonics with the 12th overall pick in the2003 NBA draft but missed the2003–04 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 theLos Angeles Clippers. Collison appeared in all 82 games in the 2004–05 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, Collison had a career-best game with 29 points and 21 rebounds in a 113–102 loss to thePhoenix Suns.[4] In 2008, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City and rebranded as the Thunder.
On December 19, 2010, Collison scored a season-high 19 points and added eight rebounds in a 113–120 loss to thePhoenix Suns. In the game, he also drew his 15th charge of the season, a majority of the 22 charges the Thunder had drawn as a team to that point in the season.[5] That postseason, on May 15, 2011, Collison helped the Thunder to a Western Conference Semifinals Game 7 win over theMemphis Grizzlies, with eight points and a playoff career-high 12 rebounds.[6] The next round, Collison and the Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Conference Finals.
In 2012, Collison helped the Thunder make the leap to the next level, and reach theNBA Finals, where they lost in five games to theMiami Heat, who were led by Collison's fellow 2003 drafteesLeBron James,Dwyane Wade, andChris Bosh.
On February 3, 2015, Collison signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Thunder.[7][8]
On July 21, 2017, Collison re-signed with the Thunder to a one-year, minimum salary deal.[9][10]
Collison's final NBA game was played on April 11, 2018, a 137–123 win over theMemphis Grizzlies where he recorded one point and one rebound.
On May 10, 2018, Collison announced his retirement from professional basketball.[11] On January 12, 2019, the Thunder announced that they would be retiring Collison's No. 4 jersey, becoming the first number retired by the Thunder.[12]
Following his retirement as a player, Collison joined the Thunder in the position of basketball operations representative. On August 10, 2021, he was promoted to the position of special assistant to executive Vice President and general manager.[13]
After the Sonics relocated toOklahoma City, Collison continued to make his home inSeattle.[14][15]
Collison appeared on the cover of the989 Sports video gameNCAA Final Four 2004. The game was released on November 11, 2003, for thePlayStation 2.[16]
Collison has a daughter named Emma.[17][18] His younger brother, Michael, played college basketball for their father's alma mater,Briar Cliff University, in Sioux City, Iowa.[19]
| 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 |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | Kansas | 34 | 33 | 22.8 | .497 | .385 | .674 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .9 | 10.5 |
| 2000–01 | Kansas | 33 | 23 | 27.0 | .597 | .400 | .625 | 6.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 14.0 |
| 2001–02 | Kansas | 37* | 36 | 26.8 | .592 | .375 | .575 | 8.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 15.6 |
| 2002–03 | Kansas | 38* | 38 | 32.4 | .554 | .342 | .635 | 10.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 18.5 |
| Career | 142 | 130 | 27.4 | .562 | .359 | .624 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 14.8 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Seattle | 82 | 4 | 17.0 | .537 | .000 | .703 | 4.6 | .4 | .4 | .6 | 5.6 |
| 2005–06 | Seattle | 66 | 27 | 21.9 | .525 | .000 | .699 | 5.6 | 1.1 | .3 | .5 | 7.5 |
| 2006–07 | Seattle | 82* | 56 | 29.0 | .500 | .000 | .774 | 8.1 | 1.0 | .6 | .8 | 9.6 |
| 2007–08 | Seattle | 78 | 35 | 28.5 | .502 | .000 | .737 | 9.4 | 1.4 | .6 | .8 | 9.8 |
| 2008–09 | Oklahoma City | 71 | 40 | 25.8 | .568 | .000 | .721 | 6.9 | .9 | .7 | .7 | 8.2 |
| 2009–10 | Oklahoma City | 75 | 5 | 20.8 | .589 | .250 | .692 | 5.1 | .5 | .5 | .6 | 5.9 |
| 2010–11 | Oklahoma City | 71 | 2 | 21.5 | .566 | – | .753 | 4.5 | 1.0 | .6 | .4 | 4.6 |
| 2011–12 | Oklahoma City | 63 | 0 | 20.7 | .597 | .000 | .710 | 4.3 | 1.3 | .5 | .4 | 4.5 |
| 2012–13 | Oklahoma City | 81 | 2 | 19.5 | .595 | .000 | .769 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .6 | .4 | 5.1 |
| 2013–14 | Oklahoma City | 81 | 0 | 16.7 | .556 | .235 | .710 | 3.6 | 1.3 | .4 | .3 | 4.2 |
| 2014–15 | Oklahoma City | 66 | 2 | 16.7 | .419 | .267 | .692 | 3.8 | 1.4 | .5 | .4 | 4.1 |
| 2015–16 | Oklahoma City | 59 | 4 | 11.8 | .459 | .000 | .697 | 2.9 | .9 | .3 | .3 | 2.1 |
| 2016–17 | Oklahoma City | 20 | 0 | 6.4 | .609 | 000 | .625 | 1.6 | .5 | .1 | .1 | 1.7 |
| 2017–18 | Oklahoma City | 15 | 0 | 5.0 | .684 | – | .385 | 1.3 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 2.1 |
| Career | 910 | 177 | 20.4 | .534 | .208 | .723 | 5.2 | 1.0 | .5 | .5 | 5.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Seattle | 11 | 0 | 19.8 | .607 | 1.000 | .630 | 5.0 | .5 | .3 | .5 | 8.4 |
| 2010 | Oklahoma City | 6 | 0 | 21.5 | .333 | .000 | .429 | 4.7 | .3 | .8 | .2 | 3.2 |
| 2011 | Oklahoma City | 17 | 0 | 24.3 | .632 | .000 | .783 | 5.8 | .9 | .9 | .9 | 6.7 |
| 2012 | Oklahoma City | 20 | 0 | 16.6 | .647 | .000 | .429 | 3.4 | 1.0 | .6 | .3 | 3.5 |
| 2013 | Oklahoma City | 11 | 0 | 16.2 | .468 | .000 | .917 | 4.6 | 1.1 | .5 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| 2014 | Oklahoma City | 17 | 2 | 10.8 | .414 | .400 | .700 | 2.2 | .8 | .2 | .4 | 1.9 |
| 2016 | Oklahoma City | 9 | 0 | 8.8 | .667 | .000 | .500 | 1.2 | .6 | .9 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Career | 91 | 2 | 16.8 | .558 | .429 | .682 | 3.8 | .8 | .6 | .5 | 4.3 | |
and Basketball Reference
