18-Year NBA Veteran Announces Retirement Decision
NBA veteran Nicolas Batum is retiring from basketball, he shared in a social media announcement on Monday.
Former NBA player Nicolas Batum has announced his retirement from basketball, according to a social media post on Monday. The 37-year-old Frenchman, who was selected 25th overall in the 2008 draft, spent 18 years playing in the league with teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers.
In his final season, Batum appeared in 74 games for the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 4.0 points per game over 17.5 minutes. Throughout his career, the versatile forward played 15 years with the French national team, earning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics as their captain.
Expressing his decision to retire, Batum shared in a video message to his daughter: "I want to come home and be with you. I'm going to take care of you and make room for others. I think I've done my time." He acknowledged that after such an extensive basketball career, it's time to step away. Batum reflected on the aspects he'll miss most, saying, "I'll miss practice, the games, the competition."
These have been central to his life for the past 25 years. Batum's career statistics include averaging 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and three assists per game during his NBA tenure.
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