Re-draft 2003 NBA Draft

Just like his college teammate Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison was the dependable and safe pick for the then Seattle Supersonics and now Oklahoma City Thunder back in 2003. Even more rare, Collison has played for the organization his entire career, despite never having a great season.

That doesn’t mean that he wasn’t the right pick. He’s a tremendous locker room presence and is someone that is so locked in with the organization, that he will probably remain with the team until retires.

His best days were in Seattle, but he was a solid post presence that the Thunder could throw in when they needed him. What makes a player even more important to a team is the ability to buy into a culture and really soak in what is that the organization’s mission is.

Although he appears to be nearing the end of his career with his numbers dipping and his minutes being reduced, Collison will always be viewed favorably as a tremendous teammate.

It’s hard to find players like him that are willing to be so loyal to an organization for so long and be willing to take a role as a primary backup in the league, despite being a higher first-round pick.

Ego was not in the dictionary of Collison.

Next: No. 13 Pick