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Batum and Atkinson’s relationship has extended beyond just the NBA. Both grew close during their time together out west, and they reconnected last summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics on the same sidelines with Équipe de France de basketball. “We ended up on the national team because we never stopped talking about it, and he ended up with us, and that was great,” Batum said. “French guys, they all play,” Atkinson said. “They play for their national team, and that's not every country. A lot of the other countries, guys sit out. The French guys play, and he was our captain with Team France.”
“He's one of my favorites of all time,” Lue added. “He's right up there with Delly (Matthew Dellavedova). Just guys all for the team, whatever you need, no problem. Great in the locker room, great with the younger guys. It's never about him. It's always about the team and whatever we need. He's unbelievable.”
Law Murray: Asked Nicolas Batum about practice, then later about communicating with Tyronn Lue Batum: "He's doing a great job to keep us engaged. It's not easy to find sometimes a new speech, a new something new to keep us engaged, and he's doing it."
Joey Linn: Nicolas Batum on Chris Paul: “I texted him the first day that happened… I obviously have a ton of respect for him… 21 years and a Hall of Famer… I got a chance to play with a lot of great players. He’s one of them. So just wanted to text him and thank him for the time I had with him.” On the reports that certain Clippers players wanted CP3 gone: “They didn’t ask me. Like everybody else, I just woke up and found out about the news. It is what it is, the situation upstairs… If something happened, I don’t really know about it… It’s sad sometimes to be part of that. On both sides. The fans too. Just wish the best for CP.”
Nicolas Batum on Chris Paul:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 9, 2025
“I texted him the first day that happened… I obviously have a ton of respect for him… 21 years and a Hall of Famer… I got a chance to play with a lot of great players. He’s one of them. So just wanted to text him and thank him for the time I had… pic.twitter.com/kZX6Tl4RC8
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Nicolas Batum on the comments under French players’ social media pages after win against Slovenia: “Some of y’all are SICK even if you disagree with a BASKETBALL play, racism and hate are NEVER ACCEPTABLE at all. After Dennis Schroder earlier, now this…”
Nicolas Batum: Let’s run it back #ClipperNation! The Batum Battalion keeps rolling 🫡
Bobbyy Marks: Largest waive and stretch in NBA history Nearly triples the Nicolas Batum waiver by Charlotte years ago
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Shams Charania: Free agent forward Nicolas Batum intends to sign a two-year, $11.5 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes a team option as well as a trade kicker. Batum's agent, Bouna Ndiaye of Comsport, negotiated the contract for the reunion.
Law Murray: Nicolas Batum contract history since 2020: - Dec. 2020, 1y-min. LAC (after bought out of final year of 5y-$120m with CHA) - Aug. 2021, 2yPO LAC - Jul. 2022, opt out, new 2y $22m LAC (traded to PHI in final year of deal) - Jul. 2024, 2yPO LAC - Jul. 2025, TBD (opt out)
Shams Charania: Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. There's mutual interest between the NBA veteran and the Clippers in a new deal together. pic.x.com/mDyfBTzIGp
