Nick Collison’s jersey retired in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY – Following a 15-year career in the NBA, former Kansas great Nick Collison became the first player in Oklahoma City Thunder franchise history to have his jersey retired in a ceremony Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Oklahoma City mayor David Holt declared March 20 as “Nick Collison Day” to recognize the Iowa Falls, Iowa, native’s contribution to the Thunder franchise and the city. Many ex-Seattle SuperSonics and Thunder teammates from Collison’s 15-year career were present at the March 20 ceremonies.
Collison’s Kansas jersey No. 4 was officially retired on Nov. 25, 2003, during halftime ceremony in historic Allen Fieldhouse. A four-year standout power forward, Collison is the Jayhawks’ second all-time leading scorer, third all-time leading rebounder and fourth all-time leading shot blocker. With 2,097 career points as a collegiate, Collison is one of only three Jayhawks to amass more than 2,000 points. He pulled down 1,143 rebounds and had 243 blocked shots. He left KU ranked as the leading scorer and rebounder in Big 12 Conference history and currently ranks second in rebounds and seventh in points.
Collison was named the 2003 NABC National Player of the Year, a Consensus All-America First Team in 2003 and the 2003 Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year.
Collison led the Jayhawks to back-to-back Final Fours his junior and senior seasons, including playing for the national championship in 2003. He was a starter on the 2002 team, which became the first squad in the history of the Big 12 Conference to go undefeated in league play (16-0).
Collison was a first-round selection (12th pick overall) of the Seattle Supersonics in the 2003 NBA Draft. The organization moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and Collison concluded his professional playing career with the Thunder following the 2017-18 season.
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