LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) reacts after the game against the Houston Rockets at the Intuit Dome.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Clippers will be without a trusted veteran this season, as Nicolas Batum has announced his retirement from playing basketball. Batum shared the news on Instagram in a sit-down with his son, as he asked his father if he was really retiring.
“Yeah, that's it. Dad is done playing basketball. I've been playing for a long time. I started here, but it's been 25 years since I left. 20 years as a pro. That's a lot. 18 years in the NBA, 15 with the French national team,” Batum said.
View this post on Instagram
Batum re-signed with the Clippers last season on a two-year, $11.5 million deal. There were already rumors last season that he would retire soon, and it looks like he's content with hanging up his jersey.
Batum played in 74 games last season, averaging 4.0 points per game while shooting 40% from the 3-point line. Throughout his career, Batum was known as a 3-and-D wing who could come off the bench and give a team the spark they needed. Now, he says he's ready to retire, and his son is next up.
“I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons. 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. My time with France ended two years ago, and the NBA is over too. When you've played as much basketball as I have, at some point, you have to know when to stop.” Batum said.
It'll be interesting to see if Batum still stays around the game in some capacity.