RealGM Analysis
Nick Collison, playing in just his second season, is recovering from a torn planter fascia in his left foot. Collison, who was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics with the 12th pick in the 2003 NBA draft, is averaging 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in just 22 minutes a game this season.
Collison, who was expected to return relatively soon, is now expected to remain on the sideline for a few more weeks. He was nice enough to grant me a few minutes of his precious time before the Sonics traveled to Denver last Thursday.
Q: How is your injured left foot coming along?
A: Well, because of the kind of injury it is ? I have to let it heal and I?m not able to do much. I can ride the bike and the elliptical, which is non-weight bearing. I haven?t had any pain doing that, but once I get cleared to run, jump, and cut, is when I?ll find out how it?s really doing.
Q: Do you have any timetable for your return, or is it still up in the air?
A: I talked to the doctor yesterday (last Wednesday) and he said that we?ll wait until the weekend to see if I can run or whatever. If everything is great after that, then maybe I?ll be back in a week or week-and-a-half. There could be some soreness, so it?s pretty hard to say, but best case scenario I?d say two to two-and-a-half weeks. It?s very tough to tell because the soft tissue has to heal, so I don?t really know because everybody?s body heals differently.
Q: You?re one of the league?s most efficient players. What can you attribute to your effectiveness on the court?
A: Um, I think I know how to play within my own game. I try not to take bad shots, and I have an idea of what I?m capable of doing, and I stay away from things that are my weaknesses.
Q: How has newcomer Chris Wilcox fit into Seattle?s system?
A: Man, he?s been awesome. The way we?ve been running, he?s been able to catch and work with the ball. He was a great move for us, and he?s been playing great.
Q: What was it like for you to make the playoffs last season?
A: It was awesome, and a lot of fun. Now that April is coming around I think about it a lot, and it was a great experience to have a good year like that and play in the playoffs as a rookie, play a big role and play pretty well. It was something we are definitely trying to get back to, because there is no comparison between the regular season and the playoffs in terms of how fun it is.
Q: You mentioned that?s something you?re looking to get back to. The Sonics have had some problems with injuries, and have struggled to succeed this season. How do you think the Sonics can turn things around and make a run at the playoffs next year?
A: Well, I think if we keep everybody on track, and starting with training camp we get everyone together and play business-like ? we?ll have a good thing going here. We?ve played better towards the end of the year. We made some moves, and I just think there is a much more positive feel about what is going on now than there was earlier in the year. Everybody seems to have the same agenda now, and that?s winning. I think we can definitely be in the mix like we were a year ago, and that?s competing for the Northwest title and making the playoffs.
Q: How difficult was it for you to miss your entire rookie season because of a shoulder injury?
A: It was really tough. I?ve wanted to play in the NBA since I was about eight or nine years old, and then I made it and had to wait a whole year. It was tough because I had surgery in October, and then I started rehab and felt better, but then I had to go back under the knife in February. So, I had to start from square one, and it was especially tough around the time I had the second surgery. Also, it took me a long time to get the rust off. It took probably half of last season to get comfortable with how I was playing. Even into this year it (the injury) took away some of my confidence. I was trying to adjust to the NBA period, which is difficult, but also after not playing for a whole year. I just seemed a step slow, so it really took a while to get comfortable. Mainly, it was the time off that was hard.
Q: What current NBA player do you admire the most?
A: I admire Tim Duncan a lot. Especially this year. From what I hear he?s fighting a pretty serious injury. He?s in a lot of pain, and he?s still playing and producing. He?s real consistent with his play ? I mean he?s able to do it every night for 82 games. That?s definitely the toughest thing about the league.
Q: You?re one of the NBA?s blue-collar workers, along with guys like Golden State?s Troy Murphy and Indiana?s Jeff Foster. How do you feel about their play?
A: I love how they play hard every night. I?d like to get my jumper more consistent, to the point where Troy Murphy?s is. He?s a really good shooter, which is something I haven?t done yet. I?ve hit some shots, but that?s kind of a goal for me to improve my shooting and be consistent with it like he has been. Foster is so hard to keep off the boards ? he?s one of those energy guys. I admire both of them for the way they play.
Q: As much as you?re enjoying your time in the NBA, does watching the NCAA tournament make you miss your days at Kansas?
A: Yea, it does. The tournament is just awesome. It?s similar to the playoffs, but for me college was the most fun basketball I ever played because I think you form a closer bond with your teammates. It?s just so fun, every year about this time I miss it, and I also get mad that we lost our opportunity to win it all during my last season.
Q: Unfortunately Kansas isn?t in the running anymore, but of the remaining teams, who do you think has the best chance at winning the NCAA Championship?
A: It?s tough. Everybody seems to be about the same. I?d probably say UCONN, but I wouldn?t be surprised if they get beat either. If I had to pick one team I?d say UCONN just because I think they have the most talent (On Sunday UCONN fell to George Mason, an eleventh seed).
