French NBA veteran Nicolas Batum announces retirement at 37
French national team player Nicolas Batum announced his retirement from professional basketball on Monday, choosing the date exactly 35 years after his father's death during a game.
French national team player Nicolas Batum has ended his professional basketball career at the age of 37. He shared the news on social media on Monday, marking exactly 35 years since the death of his father, Richard Batum, who was also a professional basketball player and died during a match due to a ruptured aneurysm.
NBA years
Batum was selected 25th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2008 NBA draft, though he never played for that franchise. Between 2008 and 2026, the forward suited up for the Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers, spending his final two seasons with the Clippers.
Across 1,205 regular-season NBA games, Batum averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, three assists and 0.9 steals per game. In 76 playoff appearances, his averages stood at 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game.
European and national team accolades
In Europe, Batum also played for French clubs Le Mans Sarthe Basket and SLUC Nancy. He was named Most Valuable Player of the European U-18 Championship in 2006 and was recognized as France's best player in 2021.
With the French national team, Batum won Olympic silver medals in 2021 and 2024, along with World Cup bronze medals in 2014 and 2019. He also completed a full set of medals at the European Championship, having won gold as part of the winning squad in Slovenia in 2013.
