How was draft lottery night with Thunder's Nick Collison? 'Kind of like the NBA game show'

When Sam Presti gauged Nick Collison’s interest in representing the Thunder at the NBA Draft Lottery, Collison had a couple of questions. 

“If I get (picks) eight and 14, does my banner in the arena come down?” Collison asked. 

Yes, Presti told Mr. Thunder, whose No. 4 was retired by the team. 

OK, Collison said, “If I get one and two what does that mean?” 

A statue, Presti responded. 

“I’ll do it if I can get a statue and if I can get an assistant to write all my scouting reports,” Collison said. 

Neither Collison’s worst fear nor wildest dream came true, but by any measure it was a successful lottery night for the Thunder, as OKC landed picks No. 2 and No. 12 in the 2022 NBA Draft. 

“Gonna keep the banner up, no statue, no assistant,” Collison told The Oklahoman, “but we're gonna get a really good player.” 

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Indeed. Barring a trade or Presti rebuffing mass consensus (which he’s done before), the Thunder will select one of three prized big men: Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren or Duke’s Paolo Banchero. 

The Thunder can choose between two of the three after the Magic picks at No. 1. 

“We got a lot riding on it,” Collison said. “I've been scouting all year, so I've been really into the process of the draft this year. All year you're thinking, it'd be great to be toward the top so we can get this type of player ... yeah, it's a big deal. I was feeling a little suspense.”

Collison, a Thunder lifer, moved from the floor to the front office when he retired in 2018 after 14 NBA seasons. After first serving as a basketball operations representative, Collison was promoted last summer to Presti’s special assistant. 

“I really trust his instincts on a lot of different things,” Presti said. 

Collison said he’s spent the last few years learning about things he didn’t “fully grasp” as a player. 

“I see the game a lot differently,” Collison said. “You're trying to project players down the road. As a current player, you're looking more like, 'How is this guy gonna help us win tomorrow?' That's different, but I've enjoyed it.”

Lottery night is all about the future, and Collison was well aware of the stakes. 

Lottery representatives are figure heads. They have no real power, but they’re front and center on ESPN’s broadcast, which makes them the face of either joy or disappointment for fan bases like the Thunder’s. 

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“It's kind of like the NBA game show,” Collison said. “(Deputy Commissioner) Mark Tatum is the host.” 

Among the lottery representatives were Richard Hamilton of the Pistons and Anderson Varejao, who represented Cleveland. Collison chatted with both, having battled with them before. 

Collison was also on stage with a former Thunder teammate, Domantas Sabonis, who was representing the Kings. 

Collison, in somewhat of a bold move, didn’t come to the lottery equipped with any good luck charms. 

“It goes pretty quick,” Collison said, which some viewers might disagree with. “I had a good seat. I could see the envelope a few seconds before (Tatum) read it just because I was right behind him. I definitely was locked in on those envelopes, and just hoping to not see our name called until later.

“I started to nod at the end,” Collison said, “or maybe it was just in my head.” 

After all but the top-four teams were revealed, the cameras caught Collison taking a deep breath and raising his eyebrows with a slight smile. 

It was the look of relief. 

And sure enough, when the Rockets were announced at No. 3, Collison nodded, knowing a top-two pick was guaranteed. 

“I promised some people one and two,” Collison said, “so I guess I didn't come through on that, but we'll take two and 12.”

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NBA Draft key dates

COMBINE: May 16-22 in Chicago

DRAFT: June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.