Collison on OKC & Thunder

Thunder forward Nick Collison had this to say last week when asked about the franchise’s move to OKC.

“I love Seattle,” Collison told the Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World. “We’ll continue to live there in the offseason.”

“It’s going to be an adjustment,” Collison said. “I’m excited to play there. I think the fans (who have already sold out season tickets at the Ford Center) will be great. Living there will be the adjustment. It’s going to be closer to home, closer to here.”

Collison, who grew up in Iowa and has spent his entire career in Seattle after the Sonics franchise drafted him with the 12th overall pick in 2003, also weighed in on the team and his expectations for this season.

“We were 20-62 last year. We have a long way to go,” he said. “I think they are setting our team up in the future the right way, to be a winner.”

When asked if he would start or come off the bench, Collison said, “I don’t know. I’m not sure how it’ll work out. I started 30-some games last year, and we’ve got Chris Wilcox back and (added) Joe Smith. We’ll see how it goes. I’m exited to get started.”

Collison averaged a career-high 9.8 points and 9.4 rebounds last season in 28.5 minutes per game.

This isn’t the first time Collison expressed strong feelings for Seattle. In late August, he told a Seattle newspaper he was “torn” over the move.

“I love living here, but even when there was this possibility two years ago, I said we have no control over where we are going to play,” Collison told The Seattle Times. “I’m torn because I love the city personally, but I also can’t dwell on it. I can just look forward and be excited about the season….