All summer long, NBA Game Time's celebrating the global reach of the game we love. Over the course of 90 days - leading up to the 2014 Global Games in October - get to know more about the international faces of the NBA. Day 9 brings…
Nicolas Batum (F, Portland Trail Blazers), France
Height: 2.03 m, 6-foot-8 | Weight: 90 kg, 200 pounds | Born: 14 December 1988
Not unique, but "weird." That's how Nicolas Batum describes himself.
"I'm not a typical player. I'm a small forward, but 22 (points), 18 (rebounds), 5 (assists) and 4 three's? Weird," he said with a smile after a game against the Pelicans on 14 March 2014. (Portland Tribune)
Even Blazers' coach, Terry Stotts, can't draw comparisons. "I don't know if there's a guy who's the same, who can do a little bit of everything on the court like he does."
Batum comes from a rural town in Pont-l'Eveque, France, with a population of approximately 6,500 people. His Cameroonian father, Richard Batum, played professional basketball in France for 10 years before his sudden passing from a ruptured aneurysm during a game in 1991. Nicolas was just two years old at the time. Now, two decades later, Batum's carrying on his father's legacy.
In the 2013-14 season, the French swingman remained consistent, making an appearance in every single game and averaging 36 minutes and 13 points. During the Playoffs, he lit up the court, averaging 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, proving his versatility and that he truly is a defensive machine.
This Trail Blazer is more than just weird. As teammate Damian Lillard told SB Nation, "He's Mr. Everything."
Key Stats
2013-14 Season: PTS: 13 | REB: 7.5 | AST: 5.1 | BLK: 0.7
Season Highlight: Batum had two triple-doubles, one against the Orlando Magic on 8 January 2014 (10 rebounds, 14 assists, 14 points) and one against the San Antonio Spurs on 2 November 2013 (12 rebounds, 11 assists, 11 points).
Achievements/Awards
*He won a gold medal with France in the 2013 EuroBasket championship
*Batum helped France capture the gold medal at the 2006 European U-18 Championships held in Amaliada, Greece, earning Most Valuable Player Honors
*He won the bronze medal at the 2007 U19 World Championships held in Novi Sad, Serbia, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists
5 Things To Know
1. His nickname is "Batman"
2. Batum and his family founded "The Batum Mama Foundation," a non-profit organization focused on helping young women and mothers across West Africa
3. He's an ambassador to the Giving Back Charity, which supports educational projects throughout the world through arts and sports (other NBA ambassadors include: Serge Ibaka, Thunder; Nikola Vučević, Magic)
4. In the 2012-13 season, he became the fourth NBA player ever with 100 3-pointers, 350 assists and 80 blocks in a season (L. James, 2; K. Durant, S. Pippen, 1)
5. He joined Kevin Durant and LeBron James as the only players in the NBA to rank in the top 40 in both steals and blocks per game in the 2012-13 season
Check out Batum's photos and videos in the LEAGUE section of the NBA Game Time app
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