REPORTS: LA Clippers Veteran Forward Makes Major Career Announce Amid Olympics Run
LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum earned a silver medal with France at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As a 16-year NBA veteran, he had many remarkable moments with the national team, but this marks his final appearance wearing that jersey.
Following the gold medal game against Team USA, Batum shared his sentiments via BasketNews: “This was my last time in this jersey. I played fifteen years, participated in four World Cups, four Eurobaskets, and four Olympics. I achieved what I needed: seven medals. I’m happy.”
Batum concludes his impressive basketball career with France with a silver medal from the Paris Olympics.
Nicolas Batum calls it an end to his glorious France national team career 👏🇫🇷 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/0jkHjbjyvB
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) August 10, 2024
It’s uncertain how many more years Batum will continue playing in the NBA, but the veteran forward signed a two-year, $ 9.6 million contract with the Clippers this summer. This deal includes a player option, allowing Batum to decide his NBA future by next summer.
In a 2022 interview, Batum expressed in French, “Ty Lue saved my life, so I’ll stay with T-Lue unless they let me go. He rescued my career.”
Une fin de carrière aux Clippers pour @nicolas88batum ?
"Tyronn Lue m'a sauvé la vie" 🗣#LibreAntenneNBA 🍿 avec @nicolas88batum (https://t.co/F7m2EHSkYM) pic.twitter.com/yXf3FRpSKF
— First Team (@FirstTeam101) May 23, 2022
Batum was traded from the Clippers to the Philadelphia 76ers at the start of last season as part of the James Harden deal, but he returned to LA this summer, aiming to conclude his NBA career there. With a silver medal marking the end of his Olympic journey, Batum has established himself as a legend in French basketball.