Yeah, Batum in no way said that he's going to rest this summer before playing for France before training camp. (If I cared enough I'd find the link and hyperlink that first sentence I wrote so that it'd drip with sarcasm.) And didn't Kobe or Pierce, or someone of that ilk, say that they thought they'd go play in Europe for a couple years after retiring from the NBA? It was a few years ago, but I'm quite certain one of them said the same thing Nic just said. Fucking assholes. (Although, in the case of Kobe/Pierce, they ARE assholes, but not because they said they'd play in Europe after their NBA careers were over.) For the record, I'm NOT in favor of NBA players playing nationally/in the Olympics. But that's their right and I'm not going to hold it against them. And all you two-faced dumbshits that don't like Nic playing for France - you better hate Lillard for playing with, and trying to make, Team USA.
I totally understand his disposition.. I just feel like part of him would rather be the star in playing overseas in France then what he is here.
Well if he doesn't sign another NBA contract next summer then we'll know you're right. And if he DOES sign another NBA contract we'll know you're wrong. I'm willing to stake my house on him signing another NBA contract (barring a career-ending injury occurring before he has the opportunity).
Totally agree with you, but there is a distinction. Nic plays like major minutes and take a large role on the French Team. Dame would play like 10 mpg max if he were on Team USA.
I often wonder about this. You hear about these guys playing in the summer at UCLA or in Houston or Atlanta, or even at the Blazer practice facility. Anywhere they can find good competition. They are playing pick up games for a couple of hours every day. We don't seem to care about this. But if a guy is playing internationally we think he is exerting more energy? I am not sure I see the difference. They don't play every day internationally and the practices are not as hard as these local pick up games. Mentally I think Nic might get drained, but he does get that rest before fall camp starts. My issue is I think it hurts him from working on different aspects of his game, as well as working on his body. But I don't think the minutes for the French team is an issue.
I have no problem with batum playing for the French team. But he needs to take a break this year and fix whatever is wrong with his game. He had a bad year this year, it's a contract year next year, and the team really needs him. He could play in the Olympics next year while sitting this one out
Sure, but if Dame could you know he wouldn't turn down playing 30-40mpg for Team USA. Lucky for us it doesn't matter what Dame wants.
notice I said part of him. Most guys this is their dream. For him it seems like, "well this is where I get paid the most, and where the best play".
When Dirk was Nico's age you couldn't pull him out of playing for Germany or the Gasol's from playing for Spain. If folks don't like world competition, that's their problem. Tennis players play Davis Cup and they have one of the most grueling schedules in sports..often 3 hour plus matches without a break. Nico watched his father die on the court playing French basketball and has every right to play all he wants, just like Curry or Iggy or any other NBA player. The NBA is not the end of the world for an athlete. Deal with it! I think Nico's divorce during the season had more impact on his mental game along with his injuries so I guess NBA players should just not get married eh? Nico is a guy I really want on our roster next year. Not many will agree with me but that's not unusual.
They were settling his divorce and in court Dec 2014 dude..that's last season http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2014/12/judge_gives_trail_blazer_nic_b.html
I agree with everything you say but the problem is doing this hurts his production here. And the fact that he's already worn down makes it worse. I don't blame him and I understand why he plays, it just doesnt benefit us.
His divorce was finalized October 2013. He was behind on his payments to his ex, whichis why he was found in contempt of court. The divorce was I'm the rearview mirror at that point, dude just wasn't showing up to court when he was called out for missing payments. hardly mentally shattering stuff.
He was in court concerning that divorce last season..lost a ton of money. I stand by my point. His divorce was the cause and it took a long time to settle it.
Batum should've listened to Kanye... "If you ain't no punk holla we want prenup, WE WANT PRENUP! YEAH! It's something that you need to have 'Cause when she leave yo ass she gon' leave with half"
He actually got off pretty well. Five million. It could have been a lot worse. And I don't buy any of the divorce bs. He went through his actual divorce in 2013 and had his best year of his career
I'm guessing you've never been through an ugly divorce...mine took 3 years to finalize. I'm not selling divorce bs but he's clearly been drained by it whether you consider it a factor or not. I do
Riverman and others who have posted the divorce theory have plausible reasoning. To solve this, I forced myself to read the Oregonian article cited above. The article says that in the 2013-14 season, Batum thought his agent was taking care of it and would pay the bitch. In the 2014-15 season, Batum had to fight in court, because although he had overpaid, the incompetent female judge (who probably loves her job of destroying thousands of men) couldn't do arithmetic and thought he had underpaid. 2013-14 season: 2014-15 season: The December 10, 2014 article cited in the post above said that that day's news was: So it's plausible that Batum's play was affected in 2014-15, when the matter weighed on his mind, instead of 2013-14, the divorce season, when he thought his agent would take care of payments. Edit: But I'd still like to trade him, for reasons unrelated to this (a replaceable, ordinary talent who is overpaid).
