Of the quartet of leaders from the 2021 Olympics, only two are left in anticipation of EuroBasket 2022: Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert. To Nando De Colo† Nicholas Batum (33) has in turn withdrawn for the next European Championship. In an interview with the First Team, the Blues captain explained the reasons for his decision: the fatigue that comes from the succession of leagues, the prospect of a capital season in the NBA next year with the return of the duo Kawhi Leonard – at last – Paul George and the need to spend time with family, he who just fathered a little girl.
“It won’t please, I know!” † @nicolas88batum on his decision not to participate in the Euro pic.twitter.com/XMWZjFJg5q
— FirstTeam (@FirstTeam101) Apr 8, 2022
He will never participate in the European Championship again.
For example, seven years after his last bitter appearance in Villeneuve d’Ascq, marked by his 0/3 on free throws at the end of extra time against Spain in the semi-final, Nicolas Batum will certainly never play in the championship again.” Europe. The hero of Saitama, already resting during the 2017 edition, is likely to end his international career after the 2024 Olympics.
Nicolas Batum in 2015, which will remain his last European Championship
(photo: Sebastien Grasset)
Seen on the continental stage four times since the EuroBasket 2009 in Poland, the 155-cap winger has won everything: the bronze medal in 2015, silver in 2011, and the highest award, the gold medal in 2013, where he was the top scorer in the final (17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals against Lithuania). The Norman now has a summer of rest ahead of him to prepare for the two missing titles in his collection: world gold and Olympic gold. Extensive program!
A void that is difficult to fill
Either way, his absence is another blow to the coach. In addition to the greatest action in the history of French basketball, last summer Nicolas Batum proved that he remained a key player in the tricolor system, as evidenced by his incredible quarterfinal performance against Italy (15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks for 29 rating). Road captain of the Blues, he even had his longest playing time in an international career (average 30 minutes)! His package will still make it possible to prepare the next generation in positions 3 and 4 with a view to the future after Paris 2024. Even if his last (and first) package is not reassuring: without Batum, the French team bit into the dust in the round of 16 of EuroBasket 2017.
