Veteran forward Nicolas Batum, who had previously considered retirement, has decided to continue his career in the NBA for a few more years.
The Frenchman last played for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, joining the City of Brotherly Love from the Los Angeles Clippers in the first week of the 2023-24 campaign as part of the James Harden trade.
Now a free agent, Batum is set to rejoin his former team, the Clippers, on a two-year deal worth $9.6 million, according to ESPN league insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 35-year-old's first stint with the team was from 2020 to 2023, and he initially envisioned retiring with the team.
Despite being traded to Philadelphia, Batum's family continued to reside in Los Angeles, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
The 6-foot-8 wing's familiarity with the Clippers organization and his close relationship with head coach Tyronn Lue and various front-office staff members strongly influenced his decision to return to the team.
Nicolas Batum's wife previously confirmed his retirement
Batum's wife Aurile had previously stated in August 2023 that the 2023-24 season would be her husband's final campaign in the league.
"Nico has decided to end his career (NBA and French national team) after the [2024] Olympics, so this is his last season with the Clippers," she said in French on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
However, Batum's unexpected trade and successful campaign may have disrupted his plans to hang up his sneakers.
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