Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum agrees to play with a French club: NBA Update
Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum has agreed to play for a French Basketball Club Nancy, if the lockout continues in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The official signing of his contract has yet to take place
as the French club asked for a detailed Medical check-up.
After his complete medical check-up, the Trail Blazers’ star will be eligible to the French Professional A League, and the Euro league. NBA has locked it players over the labour unrest with the Players Union and this has resulted
in many players searching for overseas options during the lockout.
Although, Batum is going to sign a conditional contract with the French club, but still it is a major development towards potential league players signing in Europe. About three weeks ago, Batum himself stated in the media as he
is seriously thinking to play overseas if the lockout threatened the entire 2011-2012 regular season. He was talking to a French news paper and replied after he asked about his involvement with the French club.
“The discussions surrounding the lockout are going to endure for quite awhile unfortunately. I’ve always said I don’t want to wait 3-4 months without playing and if that means coming back to France. Nothing is official, but Nancy
is an interesting club who competes and gets results, and who has regularly been in the final for the French League championship in the past few years with their coach, Jean-Luc Monschau. He’s a really good coach, and he has a good staff. The club has good
qualities, and it’s true that I have contacts there.”
On the other hand, Basketball’s governing body FIBA also has given permission to all the league players as they can play in their leagues under NBA’s contracts. However, the French born Nicolas is also glad to play in his native country while his previous NBA
experience will benefit his game. Before making an NBA debut in 2008, Nicolas had a very promising career in France. His first major achievement came in 2004 when he helped his country to win 2004 FIBA European Championship.
Nicolas repeated the same performance in the very next year and again helped his team to win the Championship. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in that particular competition. After playing wonderfully in France
he made his way into the NBA where Houston Rockets drafted him 25th overall in the first round of 2008 NBA draft and then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Last season, Nicolas Batum played total 80 games with the Blazers and averaged 12.4 points,
and 4.5 rebounds per game.
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