Nick Collison Earns Spot On Thunder's Mount Rushmore According To Bleacher Report

When you think of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Mount Rushmore, names like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and now Shai Gilgeous-Alexander roll off the tongue without hesitation. 

Durant was the 2014 MVP who brought the team to the NBA Finals. Westbrook was the relentless force who became the franchise’s heartbeat and the 2017 MVP. And Shai, fresh off his 2025 MVP and Finals MVP run, delivered the Thunder’s first-ever championship.

But the fourth face on Bleacher Report’s “Thunder Mount Rushmore”? Nick Collison.

Dan Favale and Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report made the surprising, yet sentimental choice to honor Collison alongside three superstars. 

On the surface, it’s puzzling. Collison never made an All-Star team, never won a major award, and never averaged double-digit points in a season. His career averages across 14 years with the Seattle SuperSonics and Thunder, 5.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on 53.4% shooting, don’t scream “franchise legend.”

Yet, Collison’s case isn’t built on stats. It’s built on loyalty, culture, and the Thunder’s unique history.

Drafted 12th overall in 2003 by the Seattle SuperSonics, Collison became one of the rare players to stick with one franchise for his entire career. When the team relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, he was part of the move, serving as the steady veteran during the Thunder’s rise. 

He was there when Durant, Westbrook, and James Harden turned the franchise into a powerhouse. He was there during deep playoff runs, Finals heartbreak, and the eventual departures of Durant and Harden. And he was still there when the Thunder transitioned into the Westbrook era and then into the rebuild that eventually produced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Collison wasn’t flashy, but he was invaluable. He did the dirty work, setting bone-crunching screens, boxing out, diving for loose balls, and anchoring the defense with effort and intelligence. 

Coaches loved him because he made stars’ lives easier. Teammates respected him because he sacrificed his own numbers for the team’s success. Fans embraced him because he embodied Oklahoma City’s gritty, hard-working spirit.

That connection explains why Collison became the first player in Thunder history to have his jersey retired. On March 20, 2019, the Thunder lifted his No. 4 into the rafters, cementing his place in franchise lore.

So is Collison really worthy of a Mount Rushmore spot? On pure basketball resume, probably not. 

Other names like James Harden, who won an MVP after leaving OKC, or Serge Ibaka, who was an elite defender during the Thunder’s peak, have stronger cases. Even Paul George, with his short but impactful run, might get a nod over Collison if the criteria were strictly about talent and accolades.

But Mount Rushmore isn’t always about numbers. Sometimes it’s about legacy. Collison gave the Thunder stability during troubled years. While Durant, Westbrook, and Shai symbolize the franchise’s highs, Collison represents its foundation.

In that sense, Collison’s face carved into OKC’s symbolic mountain makes perfect sense. He wasn’t the star, but he was the glue, and in Oklahoma City, that matters just as much.