Nick Collison, the 14-year NBA veteran forward/center spent his whole career with the Seattle Supersonics – OKC Thunder organization. Collison is set to have his jersey retired on March 20th. Although Collison’s career production is certainly lacking typically tantalizing stats, the fact Collison remained a loyal and serviceable veteran through the end matters.
Professional veterans are crucial to maintaining stability within the team structure. This is especially true for an organization as young as the OKC Thunder. The team faced several challenges in establishing a new operational foundation and fandom in an unknown market in Oklahoma City,
As OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti said upon Collison’s retirement, the right people are always needed in “the early phase of an organization’s life cycle”.