Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM
There's something strange about
Nick Collison I first noticed during the summer of 2003, after the Seattle SuperSonics drafted Collison with the 12th pick of the draft. In summer-league practices and then again in informal workouts before the start of training camp, Collison would start slowly, look a little overmatched, but then figure the speed and flow of the game out and begin quietly playing a major role.
From a big-picture perspective, the same thing occurred during Collison's second rookie season. His first, 2003-04, was lost to surgery on both shoulders. Collison spent the entire year on the bench, watching and learning. Thanks to that perspective and his big-time NCAA experience at Kansas, Collison was much more prepared than the average NBA rookie.
Collison struggled at times during the preseason, which he finished averaging 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He had 15 points and eight rebounds against Phoenix as a starter and 14 points and nine rebounds against the Lakers, but also struggled with having his shot blocked and committing fouls at times.
Those same problems carried over into the start of the regular season. During November, Collison averaged only 2.9 points and shot 40.4% from the field. He was critical in a Nov. 14 come-from-behind win over Memphis, holding Grizzlies leading scorer 
Pau Gasol to three points in the fourth quarter, blocking two shots and throwing a sensational behind-the-back pass for an assist, but struggled overall.
When center 
Vitaly Potapenko was activated from the injured list in mid-December, there was speculation that Collison might lose his place in the rotation. He played only two minutes in a Dec. 17 loss to Phoenix, but responded by forcing his way into more minutes. Over the last five games of December, Collison averaged 7.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, shooting 15-for-26 from the field. His spot in the rotation was never again in jeopardy.
With forward 
Reggie Evans sidelined by gastroenteritis, Collison earned the first start of his career Jan. 5 at Orlando, scoring seven points and grabbing five rebounds. He was a bright spot in a Jan. 26 loss at Utah, hitting all five of his field-goal attempts for 12 points and adding eight rebounds. On Feb. 10, Collison helped the Sonics come back against the Sacramento Kings following the ejection of 
Danny Fortson with four points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter. He went into the All-Star Break on a high note, recording career highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds for his second career double-double against Golden State.
Over the second half of the season, Collison would give the Sonics consistent shot-making in the paint and rebounding, as well as intelligent defense despite breaking his nose on March 6 and having to wear a mask the remainder of the regular season. In his third career start on Mar. 18, Collison recorded his third double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds). With the Sonics hobbled by injuries, Collison scored double-figures for four straight games from Mar. 27-Apr. 1. He tied his career high with 16 points and recorded a fourth double-double on April 8 against the Lakers.
Collison finished the season with averages of 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. More impressively, he shot 53.7% from the field, a mark which would have ranked him sixth in the NBA had he attempted enough shots to qualify.
During the postseason, Collison continued to step up. He averaged 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds against Sacramento in the First Round, particularly shining in Games 4 and 5 of the series as the Sonics win in five games. In Game 4, Collison took three charges during the fourth quarter, and in Game 5 he had 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.
Despite struggling at times to defend against two-time MVP Tim Duncan in the Western Conference Semifinals against San Antonio, Collison was still a key player for the Sonics. He scored double-figures twice in the series and averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, including 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in Game 5.
Over the course of the playoffs, Collison shot 60.7% from the field. Only one other player, Houston's Yao Ming, shot at least 60% in the postseason while attempting at least 50 field goals.
Now fully comfortable with the speed of the NBA game, Collison should only be better next season, when he is expected to challenge for a spot in the starting lineup. Whatever his role, Collison should continue to be a positive influence on the Sonics.
2004-05 Highlights:
Led the Sonics by shooting 53.7% from the field.
Recorded four double-doubles.
One of only two Sonics to see action in all 82 games.
Scored a career-high 16 points twice (vs. LAL on 4/8 and vs. GSW on 2/16).
Grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds vs. GSW on 2/16.
Shot 60.7% during the postseason.
Led all rookies in FG%
SUPERSONICS.COM Player of the Week:
Dec. 27-Jan. 2
Jan. 24-30
Mar. 28-Apr. 3
