Nicolas Batum announces retirement after 18 NBA seasons - ESPN

Nicolas Batum, a longtime NBA forward and stalwart for France's national team, announced his retirement Monday in a social media video with his son.

«Yeah, that's it,» Batum said. «Dad's done playing basketball. I've been playing for a long time.… Twenty years as a pro. That's a lot. Eighteen years in the NBA. Fifteen with the French national team.… It's over.»

Batum, 37, spent most of the past six seasons with the LA Clippers, including averaging 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 74 appearances last season. The 2008 first-round pick entered the NBA as a teenager and spent his first seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before a lengthy stint with the Charlotte Hornets and a brief stop with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2023-24 season.

Prior to joining the NBA, Batum played two seasons in the French league.

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«I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons,» Batum told his 10-year-old son, Ayden, in the video. «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. You know, when you've played as much basketball as I have, at some point, you have to know when to stop.… I've done everything I needed to do.»

A versatile forward capable of defending multiple positions and stretching opposing defenses with his outside shot, Batum posted career averages of 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 37.1% on 3-pointers. During his career, Batum appeared in 76 playoff games and reached the 2021 Western Conference finals with the Clippers.

The native of Lisieux, France, was deeply committed to representing