A wave of excitement has swept through the Oklahoma City Thunder community as former Thunder legend Nick Collison officially returns to the franchise โ this time, as part of the senior coaching staff.
The announcement came early Thursday morning from the teamโs front office, confirming that Collison, who spent his entire NBA career with the Thunder organization, will join head coach Mark Daigneaultโs bench as a Senior Coaching Advisor.
Fans at the Paycom Center erupted with enthusiasm upon hearing the news, many expressing nostalgia for Collisonโs years of loyalty, leadership, and hustle that earned him the nickname โMr. Thunder.โ
โNick has always been the heartbeat of this franchise,โ said General Manager Sam Presti in a press release. โHis understanding of the game, leadership qualities, and deep connection to Oklahoma City make him an invaluable addition to our coaching staff.โ
Collison, now 44, retired from professional basketball in 2018, capping off a 14-year career spent entirely with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder organization. Since retirement, he has served in various advisory roles within the teamโs front office but is now stepping into a more hands-on coaching position.
Speaking to reporters, Collison expressed his excitement about returning to the sidelines:
โThis organization has always been home to me,โ said Collison. โIโm honored to have the chance to help shape the next generation of Thunder basketball and continue building on what we started years ago.โ
Social media immediately buzzed with reactions from fans and former teammates. Stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook congratulated Collison on the move, calling it โwell deservedโ and โperfect for the culture.โ
The Thunder organization will formally introduce Collison in a press conference scheduled for Friday morning at the Paycom Center.
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