French all-around forward Nicolas Batum officially announced his retirement.

On September 21, 37-year-old French legend Nicolas Batum and his son Aiden released an emotional video on social media, officially announcing the end of his 18-season NBA career and the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

Nicolas Batum entered the league in 2008 as the 25th overall pick in the first round. He started with the Portland Trail Blazers and subsequently played for the Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers. As a versatile forward with basketball IQ, outside shooting ability, and wide defensive coverage, he reached his peak during his time with the Hornets, averaging 12.1 points per game in a season.

After his farewell performance with the Clippers in the recently concluded 2025-26 season, Batum's total NBA career points stand at 11,553. He played over 1,000 games in his career, leaving behind a solid record of 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and a 37.1% three-point shooting percentage.

In his retirement announcement, Batum thanked his former teams one by one. He admitted that the Trail Blazers were where he first learned about the league and the United States, and he also sincerely thanked the Clippers fans who had been with him for six years, as well as the Philadelphia team that made his son a passionate fan.

Although he never won an NBA championship, Batum earned global respect for his noble playing style and professionalism, and successfully paved the way for a new generation of French basketball talent. This veteran's retirement marks the end of an era, and his all-around performance and on-court intelligence will be remembered by the league for a long time to come.

Image source: Internet/NBA official website