Former France national basketball team captain Nicolas Batum has announced his retirement from professional basketball at the age of 37, concluding an 18-season career in the NBA and 15 years with the national team.
The 2.02-metre winger shared his decision on Monday in a video published on Instagram, filmed partly with his son in Pont-l'Eveque in Normandy, where he was originally trained.
In the video, Batum explained that dad was finished playing basketball. He stated that he had decided to stop playing because he wanted to return home and leave his place to others after serving his time, adding that a player who had played as much basketball as he had must know when to stop.
A career across North America and Europe
Batum played more than 1,200 games in the National Basketball Association over his 18 seasons in North America. During his time in the NBA, he featured for four teams: the Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Before departing for the United States, the Frenchman first rose to prominence playing for Le Mans in ProA, the top division of French professional basketball. His early development in Normandy and success with Le Mans helped launch his long career at the highest levels of the sport.
Alongside his club career, Batum was a core figure for the French national team, known as les Bleus, for 15 years. He helped guide France to the European Championship title in 2013, as well as two bronze medals at the FIBA World Cup in 2014 and 2019.
Olympic finals and a tribute to his father
Batum also captured two Olympic silver medals with France, finishing as runner-up at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and on home soil at the Paris Games in 2024. His international achievements were highlighted by a memorable semi-final against Slovenia at the Tokyo Olympics, where he made a crucial block in the final seconds to preserve a 90-89 victory and send France to the final.
Batum specifically chose September 21 to announce the end of his playing days, selecting the anniversary of the day his father died on a basketball court.
In the Instagram video, he explained that his father had unfortunately been forced to end his career in a way he did not choose, while Batum watched from the stands. By choosing that specific date, the Frenchman decided to permanently connect the end of his own career to his father's memory.
