Nicolas Batum Retires from NBA in Video With Son, Played for Clippers, 76ers and More Teams

Longtime NBA forward Nicolas Batum is officially calling it a career, revealing in a video with his son that he is retiring from the league:

Batum spent 18 seasons in the NBA and most recently suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers. He also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers.

Batum told his son that he started playing basketball in 1991 when he was two and a half years old. His father, Richard, was a professional basketball player in France, and he died during a game in front of his wife and son that same year after suffering an aneurysm.

Batum saw early success when he played on the junior French national team that won the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, and he was named MVP of the 2006 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship after leading France to a gold medal. He eventually caught the NBA's attention and was selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 25 pick in the 2008 draft before being traded to the Blazers.

Batum quickly developed a reputation as a reliable two-way wing who can impact the game on both ends of the floor. He averaged over 10 points, four rebounds and five assists in three straight seasons from 2015 to 2018 when he was with the Hornets.

Though he didn't see much playoff success, Batum was a member of the Clippers team that made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2021 before losing to the Phoenix Suns in six games.

In addition to his retirement from the NBA, Batum told his son that his career with the French national team is also over. The 37-year-old said he's looking forward to the next chapter of his life and the opportunity to spend more time with his family.