OKC Thunder: Debating whether Nick Collison deserves to have his jersey retired

The former OKC Thunder big man played a massive role in shaping the franchise. But was Nick Collison’s impact large enough for a jersey retirement?

On January 12th, the OKC Thunder announced via twitter, with a special appearance by Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost, that the organization was retiring Nick Collison’s jersey. No player will ever wear number four again for this young, but proud franchise.

Based on what I’ve seen, most Thunder fans think this is well deserved. Collison was a familiar face who was a key member of the Thunder’s success, especially in the early years.

From outside the fanbase, there was a little more skepticism. Looking at his raw stats and his limited contribution toward the end of his career, it’s understandable to see why someone who doesn’t follow the Thunder closely would question this decision.

All that being said I thought it would be fun to debate from a neutral standpoint about whether or not Nick Collison actually deserved to have his number immortalized. Let’s get right into it.