NICK'S NIGHT ONLY
Collison's special night followed by OKC's 123-114 OT loss to Toronto
High above the hardwood and behind the Thunder bench, a light revealed the white banner with blue letters and the No. 4 of Nick Collison. The Thunder legend, the first to have his number retired in team history, doesn't speak very often. When he does, it resonates. “It's been a long run and to be able to have the career I had here and have a celebration like that, I feel very fortunate,” Collison said before a pregame ceremony that had the crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena standing at attention early before the late tip-off. “It kind of goes without saying, but it's amazing for me.” It was amazing for those watching. Former Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo, working now for ESPN radio, stood on press row with tears in his eyes as Collison spoke of the Thunder coaches past and present, from Carlesimo to Scott Brooks to Billy Donovan. In his list of “thank yous,” Collison got to his daughter, Emma, and had to stop speaking, overcome with emotion as his family and his former teammates stood behind him. “I'm so proud of you and I can't wait to see the person you've become,” Collison said his now 13-year-old. “I'm just happy we get more time together.” To Thunder general manager Sam Presti: “I feel like I found a place in the league because of you. I found a place and I found a home.” To Russell Westbrook: “I wish I had your courage. I appreciate your fight.” Collison checked all the boxes. Through his time in Oklahoma City, Collison has been prescribed the name “Mr. Thunder,” a tribute to what he meant to the franchise and his consistency as a player. It's a consistency the Thunder has missed.
Entering Wednesday's game, since the All-Star break, the Thunder has been the worst of the Western Conference's current eight playoff qualifiers.
When asked for an assessment of the Thunder's issues this season, Collison said it's the product of 82 games.
“We've had stretches like this in my time here, too. We always had times where we didn't play as well throughout the year,” Collison said. “I think it's been a good year, but they're struggling now and that's part of it. It's a long haul. This time of year, sometimes, you have some down time when you don't play as well, but hopefully you can get going toward the end.”
He has a peripheral role with the Thunder that allows him the time he needs with his family. But he's still close with members of the team. He had dinner with Russell Westbrook on Tuesday night.
There's nothing like being in the locker room day-to-day to gauge the pulse of a team, Collison admitted, but he does have a sense that there's something different about this iteration of the Thunder.
“What I like about this team is it seems like we got our edge back,” Collison said. “It reminds me more of Thunder basketball.
“We didn't have that at the end of last year. I don't think that we had it in the same way we always had it before.”
The Thunder might not have had that “edge” last season, but how quickly has it been forgotten Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Co. won 15 of 23 games after the AllStar break. The Thunder was 5-9 since the break entering Wednesday.
With Collison in the building for the Thunder's game against Toronto on Wednesday, OKC showed glimpses of that edge early that was missing in a loss to Miami on Monday.
Westbrook was energized in his return from a one-game suspension. When George scored on a driving layup to put the Thunder ahead 13-12 in the first quarter, George gave a fist pump in front of Collison, who was sitting baseline next to team owner Clay Bennett.
By the end of the first quarter, the Thunder trailed 39-31, its defense getting shredded by Toronto at every level. There was an energy present that was missing two nights before, but the Thunder started 3-of-11 from the free throw line.
Collison could both approve and admonish on his night in the spotlight.