Thunderous Intentions
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OKC Thunder: Making the case for Nick Collison to be in Basketball Hall of Fame

By Rylan Stiles

NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Nick Collison talks to the media after being selected by the Seattle Sonics during the 2003 NBA Draft at Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 26, 2003 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by M. David Leeds/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Nick Collison talks to the media after being selected by the Seattle Sonics during the 2003 NBA Draft at Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 26, 2003 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by M. David Leeds/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nick Collison
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 11: Russell Westbrook /

The Basketball Hall of Fame has a few eye brow raising players. Of course, this includes players recognized for their college and some cases high school careers. For Nick Collison he will have to claw his way into the Hall if he ever hopes to reach that goal.

However, he is pretty content with his career, as he should be. Collison is one of the most underrated and under-appreciated players in NBA History. He will go down as one of the best players in a franchise history. That alone is a strong case to get someone into the Hall of Fame. You can not tell the story of the Oklahoma City Thunder without Nick Collison.

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Even with the rich history of Kansas Basketball, Nick Collison is one of the all time Jayhawks. Some have Collison as high as top-5, the lowest any reasonable person could slot Collison in for is top-ten all time for Kansas. Again, you can not even tell the full story of Kansas University Basketball without Collison.

Maurice “Mo” Cheeks, Thunder assistant coach got inducted to the Hall of Fame in this years cycle. He averaged 11-points in his NBA career, to go with his 6 dimes per game. Those numbers do not scream Hall of Famer. The Basketball Hall of Fame is much deeper than the numbers. Like Collison, Cheeks has a deeper story than his stat-line indicates.

His impact came where the stat sheet does not venture, or at least venture very well. Cheeks was an incredible defender and helped his team win on that side of the floor.

If took Mo Cheeks a few attempts to reach the Hall of Fame, and it will be the same way for Collison if he ever gets in. But does he deserve it? I’d say so.

Sure Nick Collison does not have the hardware. He was a key part to the Thunder getting to their first ever, and lone finals appearance to date, but the team did not win it. They also do not hand out awards for hardest screens set, most time hitting the deck for a loose ball, or hardest fouls. They do not give awards for mentoring young players, and they do not give awards for being scrappy.

However, Nick Collison is on the all-NBA glue team. He kept teams together, kept players within themselves, and did the dirty work. In College he shined, and led his team on and off the court. He did not lead the University of Iowa, or the University of Arkansas State. Nick Collison led the University of Kansas, which is an extremely tough task.

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Do you think Mr. Thunder deserves a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame? Leave a comment on this article or send me a tweet about it!

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