Nicolas Batam (Lisieux, France, 12-14-1988) seems to have come back to life, to be born in basketball, revived in these revivals shear. The NBA usually waits for no one, but there’s always a place for the type of generosity and improving spirit of the proven forward, who is a fundamental contributor to society today. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
shaped his mental strength from the sorrows of 2 years, When he saw his father fall and die in a basketball game, Batum worked hard, and toughened himself up as he overcame a near-break in basketball in 2020, following his tragic end. devastated inside charlotte hornets What did you think move back. He was saddened by not being able to satisfy those who demanded so much to justify the 5-year, 120 million contract he signed with the franchise. Michael Jordan In 2016, so much so that he even apologized.
But it was totally fair, because they flared up Weeping Before matches inside Batumi, he was overwhelmed with fear of death until his son was less than 3 years old, when he remembered what happened to his father when he was that age. when was he going to say goodbye to basketball tyron lue They recruited him to be one of their reliable guys on the Clippers in 2020, off the bench this season.
As an alternative the good number measures the happiness with which the former blazers And the Hornets won the basketball again, averaging 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, shooting 40% of three-pointers in 22 minutes, and a plus-minus of +2.7. From the inside and what to expect from these Clippers and the French team, he sits down with MD for a few minutes to talk to the relaxed and reflective Nico Batum.
He looks great on track and is playing a vital role in the team when he almost retired two years ago.
I went through a bad situation in my former team. For 3 years I am happy to play basketball again. Playing for the team, playing for something, playing my part at this stage of my career… I’m happy with it.
Like you, other NBA players like DeMar DeRozan and Ricky Rubio have spoken out about their mental health problems more and more in recent years. How do you value it?
It’s a good thing. We understand the problems which are outside like inflation or covid-19. From the outside it looks like we don’t care, it looks like we are rich. But we also go through tough times and you need to open up, no matter who you are. We go through injuries, off seasons, problems with family… we’re human.
“Sportsmen also go through tough times and we need to talk openly”
Tyronn Lue was the one who ‘saved’ him from retirement, he even said that he ‘saved’ his life. How has it affected your resume?
I have a great relationship with him, a great relationship, he has given me a role. With so many players on this team, my role is very simple, I don’t have to do anything special, I just have to be myself, be ready to go on the court, play, fit in with Kawhi, George, Norman Hai Powell… I fit in with everyone and you already see what you have to do.
Do you remember any specific conversation with him?
No special, every day we have one.
What role do you give him exactly on the court?
I don’t have a specific role, I’m kind of a ‘glue’ guy. I don’t mind going out and not scoring points, I’m 34 and I’ve been in the NBA for 15 years, it’s all about making life easier for others in the simplest way possible. It’s about taking open shots, giving rhythm to the attack, defending hard, facilitating ‘spacing’…
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George look great. Is he one of the big contenders for the ring if he stays healthy?
We are one of those teams, we are playing for something bigger. They have a lot of players around them and everyone knows their role well, Luke (Kennard) shoots, Zubac controls the paint, we have great guards, Marcus Morris does a good job as well… when we’re together So we know how to create space on the court and playing as a team is very easy.
He’s under contract until 2024 and still has some rope left in him in the NBA, but do you see yourself playing for ASVEL Villeurbanne in the future? Tony Parker, now the club’s chairman, removed it.
I don’t know (laughs). NBA suits me, I don’t know, maybe… I love this league, as long as I have a chance to stay, I will take advantage of it. I’m in the best league in the world, on the best team in the world… I’m going to take advantage of this gift.
“The Ring? We’re playing for something bigger”
Last summer he resigned from EuroBasket to concentrate on preparing for the season. Will we see him again in the French team in times to come? Wembanayama will play as well, and the inside game he can play with Gobert as Embiid picks France will be even more interesting.
Buff, since we have those three guys… I’ll take a break again (laughs). We are going back, we have a good team, we have the Olympic Games at home… yes, I will be back. I will retire from the national team after the Olympic Games, that’s for sure, but I definitely have two summers left, this and another, two wonderful summers coming up.
– In recent years Spain has always beaten France, with the EuroBasket final as the last example. Last time you won in 2014 World Cup. You were told you had the best team in EuroBasket, what are the keys?
Yes, even the 2015 EuroBasket… you have Sergio Scariolo. We have a better team on paper but look, Slovenia with Doncic, Serbia with Jokic, Greece with Antetokounmpo… But Spain did it again, they are a good team, they know how to win . Follows Rudy Fernandez, I played with him (in Blazers) and I love it, looks like he’s going to play forever (laughs). However, you also have a good generation of youth coming up.
