Longtime NBA veteran forward Nicolas Batum announced his retirement on Monday morning.
Batum did so with a heartfelt Instagram video that showed him reflecting on his career, which includes two separate stints with the Los Angeles Clippers across 18 total seasons.
The 37-year-old Batum first signed with the Clippers in December of 2020 and went on to spend nearly four full seasons with the franchise.
He was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in November of 2023 as part of the deal that brought James Harden to Los Angeles, finished that season with them, then re-signed with the Clippers after the 2023-24 season concluded.
Batum averaged 4 points in 17.5 minutes per game in 74 games last season. He has been known as a solid bench player in the NBA for years while also being a key part of France’s national basketball team.
Batum’s retirment comes amid what has been a disastrous offseason for the Clippers.
The team was fined $30 million and had to forfeit five first-round picks because of fallout from the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention scandal last month.
