“The Western Conference? It’s a butcher!”

Ancien captain of the French team, Nicholas Batum continues the fun in the NBA, and here he is just entering his 18th career season. Like many veterans, the Frenchman has a series of two-year contracts (1+1), with a clause to eventually become a free agent. Maybe it’s his real “Last Dance”, maybe not…Norman enjoys the game without thinking, but with a real role to play.

Nicholas, this is your 18th season in the NBA. It’s a record you share Tony Parkerfor the French player. What does this mean to you and what do you realize?

Eighteen seasons in the NBA is huge! It’s longevity… You know the average is 3-4 years. I also saw a number that explained that only 4% of players in NBA history played more than 1,000 games. Well, 4%, whatever. Playing for 18 years is not for everyone. And then you see, I still play. I’m not parked at the end of the bench just to be there to support the guys.

Being in the NBA because I was in the NBA is never going to happen…

No! The day that happens, I quit. I don’t want to do that. But I still have my playtime there. I still have 10-12 minutes, in a tighter team this year. I’m a little older. I’m not crazy either. It’s the beginning of the season. I am happy with the role I have now. 10-12 minutes per game. I’m on rotation. i play Tyronn Lue is calling me. I know I can still do well in small sequences. So my role this year will be very good.

Nicolas Batum changes role after Charlotte

You talked about longevity. There is physical and psychological longevity. The way the league is played has evolved several times since you started.

At that time, it was played with two “big men”!

It is true, but today, even if it is played much faster, we are returning to the form of the game with two interiors, but in a different way. How have you managed to adapt to keep your place in the league over these 18 years?

That’s after Charlotte. When I got kicked out of Charlotte, I got to that team. I used to be really a point ahead for years. Balloon in hand, creation. And suddenly I went to station 4, making screens. Now, my goal is really to tell myself that I can defend 1-5 and shoot 40% from 3-point range. If I do, I’ll play for a while. It has been happening for 5 years now. I can defend 1-5 and shoot 40% from 3-point range. Besides, I have a feel for the game. I can play without the ball. I manage to be in spaces. I manage to be appreciated by superstars, coaches and all that. So that suits me.

Regardless of what your leaders decide, is this really your last year or do you think you’ll be back for another season?

I don’t know. Honestly. Every time I say that and then change my mind, I don’t know. Well, we’ll see. We will see at the end of the year where I am.

We think of Malcolm Brogdon who surprised many by retiring just before the start of the season… What are your motivations for your 18th season and what keeps your holy fire going?

The fact is you can play again. The day I say to myself: ‘Niko, you’re sitting at the end of the bench, like the 13th man’… I’m not going to do that…

Even if it is the role of a veteran, a mentor Another Iguodala like at the end of your career?

No, no, because I don’t want to take someone else’s place either. I will be 18 years old and I don’t want to take someone else’s place. Of course, you can stay in another role, something like that… But if I don’t act, I might as well retire and be a family man, quote without quote. If I’m here, it’s because I’m playing. If I don’t play, I’m sure I won’t play again. That is not my goal. You have to know how to say stop…

Seventeen years later, nothing has changed in the West

Even though you have the same core this year, how do you rate these first matches?

It’s the beginning of the season, this time it’s the beginning of the season with Kawhi, so it’s a different situation. We lost Norman Powell, we have a new bench. It is set. That’s normal. We will need ten matches to get our bearings, to find the rotations. Look, Bradley Beal is hurt. When he comes back, there are things that will change so it will take about twenty matches to really find the rotations. But that’s normal. It’s not a concern.

Speaking of Bradley Beal, what can he bring to you that you don’t currently have?

Shot, score, assist. Take the pressure off James, off Kawhi. He can have the ball in his hands because he is still a big player. You can say what you want about last year, but he still averaged 18 points per game. It’s nothing, you have to score 18 points per game. He has a talent for it. So, it can bring us exactly this third option in scoring.

Like every year, the Western Conference is…

Butcher shop! (laughter)

As an actor of this conference, what is your view of the West?

The same for 18 years (laughs). I started here in 2008, 2009, that’s how it was before. The West has always been like this. Honestly, my view hasn’t changed. I can understand that people would be shocked if they didn’t follow the NBA that much before. I had seasons in 2010, you have 50 wins, 50-52 wins and you are sixth.

We still have the impression that the start of the season is extremely important in order not to be in the wrong car…

Yes, we did that last year. But we finished well. We had a good comeback from January, February. We finished well. So you have to be careful, but it’s not something you really focus on from the beginning.

“Everything is overhauled every year”

During this first week, we have the impression that the intensity is higher than usual…

It’s true, and in fact, you’re seeing that with the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). No more superteams. So everything is open. You have no extreme favorites. You’re OKC, of ​​course. But you see, last year we thought Boston was going to start a dynasty, it didn’t happen. Eventually with the new CBA, they had to break up their team. Here’s to OKC. They just signed their three best players, but we don’t know what that will look like in two years. After all, they are still young, so we’ll see… But there are no more superteams where you can project yourself. I think that every year everything is re-examined. There are no more Warriors, Cleveland or Miami that will definitely go to the finals. Or the Lakers then, or Jordan. It’s all over.

Do you prefer it the other way around?

As a fan, I think it’s more interesting. As a player, it doesn’t change anything. But as a fan, I think it’s different.

Going back to the beginning of the season, we get the impression that there are more teams playing a bit like the Pacers last season with all-court pressing…

In fact, you adapt to what wins. When the Warriors were on top, everyone started playing small and shooting 3-pointers. Now everyone is crossing over. And now you see that OKC won with two interior shots. So now you have everyone who has two interiors. So you see, adapt to what’s going on.

The funnest thing is to see some try to imitate others without having to have a team that will play the same way as OKC or Indiana.

That’s the beauty of the NBA. It’s random, that’s why it’s good. That’s why people like it, that’s why people follow.

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