While he announced that he would probably put away the sneakers in 2024, Nicolas Batum is preparing for the last two years of madness. Candidate for the NBA title with the Clippers and for international medals with the Blues, the winger dreams of an end to his career under the sign of success.
“It will be the same for me,” said Nico, referring to the choice of Nando De Colo, also forfeited for the Euro. “I think Nando and I are old grandpas there. There, between the sequences of seasons, the Olympics… This year I struggled physically. And I know there’s a huge season ahead of me with the Clippers next year. […] Because we are going to play to get to the end. This may be my only chance where I have the opportunity to be able to do this. »
On April 8, Nicolas Batum announced to our First Team colleagues his intention not to participate in EuroBasket 2022 with France. The reason ? A big recent chain between NBA seasons and international competitions and physical problems that disrupted his 2021-22 season with the Clippers. A summer off in Blue, a rare scenario for Nico Batum, who has only missed one international competition since 2009, it was EuroBasket 2017. However, do not tell the captain of the tricolor that this off-season is placed under the sign of rest. This period will be used to prepare for the next deadlines, whether with his franchise or the selection. This is what he said on May 4 to Antoine Bancharel of the newspaper l’Crew.
“I’m not tired, I know very well that I might play this summer. And I never said it was to rest, huh! But I want to be ready. I want to play two more years and ideally it would be: go far with the Clippers, World Cup, go far with the Clippers once more, then the Paris Olympics and finish my career there. To do all this, non-stop, I want to (he insists on this word) prepare myself as well as possible. This is not idleness on the beach! »
Extended this summer for two years by the Clippers, the winger now has a well-organized plan in mind for his end of career and he intends to put the odds on his side to be able to help his team win. His defense, his ability to take big shots, his leadership, his glue guy side and his slaps to all of Slovenia will be very useful to dream of success. The trophy cabinet, it can potentially fill with four new residents over the next two years. Two opportunities to seek an NBA title with LA, in the meantime a short stint with France at the World Championship and then the grand finale: the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. A finish at home, with a public all committed to the cause of the Blues and the hope of winning an Olympic gold medal which has always eluded the French. Difficult to find a more beautiful scene for the end of a career.
The scenario of this Last Dance begins and there are still many pages to write. Can Nico dream of a perfect happy ending with an NBA title + one (or two) gold medal with France? And why not we would like to say? With the return of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and the forces already in place, the Clippers are clearly among the main underdogs for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Two stars to carry the group, a big squad depth, a defense that promises to be terrifying, a bunch of players capable of playing the X factors, yeah, LA has a good head of potential champion 2023.
In Blue too, the outlook is promising. Criticized for their offensive limits, their irregularity and their ability to lose (too) many balls, the Blues nevertheless managed to snatch the silver medal at EuroBasket 2022. An unexpected achievement but one that can be highlighted , especially when you see the end of the course of Slovenia by Luka Doncic or Serbia by Nikola Jokic. At the 2023 World Cup but also at the 2024 Olympics, Vincent Collet’s group should find Nando De Colo, Nicolas Batum of course but also be able to count on the prodigy Victor Wembanyama and potentially Joel Embiid! Great contributions to strengthen an already solid and experienced group. Admittedly the ogre Team USA will remain the number one danger, certainly it will be necessary to closely monitor some challengers (Spain, Serbia, Slovenia, Germany?), but France will have the means to aim for gold in each competition. Perfect to offer a worthy outing to his captain?
Barring any change, Nicolas Batum will end his career at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and he intends to take advantage of these last two seasons to win everything in the NBA and in the selection. No doubt a gold medal at home would be the perfect scenario to come full circle.
Text source: First team / l’Équipe