Background and career
Nicholas John Collison (born October 26, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who is a special assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent his entire career with the organization originally known as the Seattle SuperSonics, which became the Thunder in 2008. Collison was drafted by the SuperSonics in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft and retired as a member of the Thunder in 2018. As a college player, he went to two Final Fours as a member of the Kansas Jayhawks. Collison won his first NBA Championship in 2025 as an executive for the Thunder.
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.
Teaming with fellow Iowan Kirk Hinrich to form one of the best duos in college basketball, Collison helped the University of Kansas 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 (a mark since surpassed). In 2003, the Jayhawks lost to Carmelo Anthony and the Syracuse Orange in the National Championship game, 81–78. Collison also played for the United States national team at the 2002 FIBA World Championship. Collison's No. 4 jersey was retired by the 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).
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. Collison appeared in all 82 games in the 2004–05 season, averaging 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 17 minutes per game. He played in all 82 games for a second time during the 2006–07 season, averaging 9.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 29 minutes per game. On January 9, 2007, Collison had a career-best game with 29 points and 21 rebounds in a 113–102 loss to the Phoenix Suns. 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 120–113 loss to the Phoenix 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. That postseason, on May 15, 2011, Collison helped the Thunder to a Western Conference Semifinals Game 7 105–90 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, with eight points and a playoff career-high 12 rebounds. In the Western Conference Finals, Collison and the Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games. In 2012, Collison helped the Thunder make the leap to the next level and reach the NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to the Miami Heat, who were led by Collison's fellow 2003 draftees LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. On February 3, 2015, Collison signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Thunder. On July 21, 2017, Collison re-signed with the Thunder to a one-year, minimum salary deal. His final NBA game was played on April 11, 2018, a 137–123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, where Collison recorded a point and a rebound.
On May 10, 2018, Collison announced his retirement from professional basketball. On January 12, 2019, the Thunder announced that Collison's No. 4 jersey would be retired on March 20, becoming the first number retired by the Thunder.
