I’m pretty easy on rookies, and I think it’s because I had it easy myself. There is one thing, however, that I do enjoy doing: Once or twice a year after shoot-around on the road we will empty the entire ball rack by either throwing or punting each ball into the stands, then make the rookies climb the steps all around the arena to get each ball. I’m not sure why, but I really like doing that.

My teammate Royal Ivey, however, still wants revenge. He was one of four rookies in Atlanta who were called the "Toys R Us Clan" by the older guys. He was responsible for bringing donuts and the local newspaper every single day. Before and after every flight, the rookies had to load and unload all the bags on and off the plane. They had to get up an hour earlier on the road to deliver the practice gear to each room. On road trips, Kevin Willis would call Royal’s room at 2 A.M. and say "Rook, I need you to go get me a carton of cigarettes." Now, Kevin Willis didn’t smoke, but Royal still would have to get out of bed and find a convenience store to get him his cigarettes, then knock on his door and deliver them. All that Royal would get for his troubles was a "Thanks Rook," as he watched the grinning veteran throw the cigarettes in the trash.

I asked Royal what he thought about all this. "I understood it," he said. "It’s a rite of passage. Some guys look at it as a punishment and retaliate, which makes it worse. It’s all in fun. I look at it like a chore. I had three other guys with me so it wasn’t as bad, because I shared the duties. I haven’t forgotten it, though, and that’s why I don’t let rookies slide by."

Today, the cycle continues. We make sure our rookies this season—Reggie Jackson and Ryan Reid—wear their pink Justin Bieber and "My Little Pony" backpacks and carry their oversized teddy bears on all road trips. Last year, Royal had Cole Aldrich’s car filled to the roof with packing peanuts. He says he went easy on him—it could have been buttered popcorn. Kendrick Perkins says in Boston they made a rookie go out in a foot of snow and do 100 pushups in only his spandex shorts.

Every player has his own rookie experience both on and off the court. It is a rough transition and I guess this is our way of showing a little "tough love." It’s all done in good fun and meant to humble the newcomers a bit, to let them know that no matter who they are, they aren’t bigger than the team. And the guys who make the newcomers do this stuff are usually the ones who also take care of them.

Part of being on a team is taking an overwhelmed rookie under your wing and helping him get through the tough times. We do those things, too. It’s just more fun to tell stories about the humiliating stuff.

—Nick Collison

_Collison, 31, a power forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be guest-blogging for GQ throughout the 2011-2012 NBA season. Click here to follow Nick on Twitter, @nickcollison4. _