{"id":5400,"date":"2018-05-10T15:37:37","date_gmt":"2018-05-10T20:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=5400"},"modified":"2018-08-20T14:12:44","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:12:44","slug":"collison-is-now-retired-from-the-nba-15-year-run-comes-to-an-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=5400","title":{"rendered":"Collison is now retired from the NBA……….15 year run comes to an end."},"content":{"rendered":"

NIck Collison is now retired from the NBA and the OKC Thunder<\/span><\/h2>\n
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NBA BASKETBALL TEAM: NICK COLLISON poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A little more than a year ago I wrote an article that Nick Collison was probably going to retire before the season starts\u00a0from the Oklahoma City Thunder.\u00a0 Well, a month later I had to write another article that I was premature in that thought, as\u00a0the all time Thunder\u00a0would come back to OKC for another season.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h5>\n

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That season is now in the books and today Mr. Collison has made if official. He is now a former player in the NBA, after going through a fifteen year career with the Seattle\/Oklahoma City franchise.\u00a0 He played his rookie season as a Sonic and continued his career on Reno Street for the past fourteen.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

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Collison now 37, \u00a0entered the NBA in the historic 2003 draft class featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.\u00a0 He will not be considered an NBA\u00a0Hall-of-Fame Player but a spot in the Naismith National Hall-of-Fame will come in time as Collison was a great college player that he followed with his steady pro career.\u00a0 His future in basketball is not known at this time but a spot as a coach somewhere (like OKC) is not out of the question.\u00a0 Collison is a\u00a0high caliber man that makes teams better with his presence.\u00a0<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n

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\u201cI started in cold gyms in small towns in Iowa and ended up playing in more than 1,000 games over 15 years in the best league in the world,\u201d Collison wrote in <\/span>an article published by ESPN<\/a> Thursday. \u201cI\u2019ve had an incredible run. I\u2019m proud of my career \u2026 But it\u2019s time to go. I\u2019m retiring from competitive basketball.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

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Collison\u2019s best statistical season came in 2007-08, when he recorded 9.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for a dreadful Sonics team that went 20-62. He would continue to be a key role player for the Thunder during their rise to contention under Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. As a result, Collison played in 91 playoff games, including the 2012 NBA Finals against the Heat.<\/span><\/h5>\n
He finishes his career with per-game averages of 5.9 points on 53 percent shooting and 5.2 rebounds per game.\u00a0 (Chicago Sun-Times)<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Collison, arguably the most beloved Thunder player, will be remembered for his professionalism as a model\u00a0fixture\u00a0in the Association and in this city.\u00a0 Expect for his number to be retired in time, which will grace the rafters of the Chesapeake Energy Arena along with his beloved teammate Russell Westbrook.\u00a0 No other Thunder players\u00a0 are\u00a0currently guaranteed that honor.<\/h5>\n

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Feature Photo:\u00a0 Russell Westbrook\u00a0has\u00a0thoughts for \u00a0the Thunder home crowd about Nick Collison\u00a0before\u00a0his last regular season game in OKC. \u00a0 \u00a9 Local News RSS EN-US<\/span> Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison <\/span><\/p>\n

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NIck Collison is now retired from the NBA and the OKC Thunder A little more…<\/p>\n

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