Tony Parker reveals discussions about Nicolas Batum playing for ASVEL / News - Basketnews.com

Nicolas Batum is one of ASVEL Villeurbanne's shareholders, but he might end up playing for the French champs as well, the club's president Tony Parker revealed.

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Tony Parker is an ambitious president and his dream is to make LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne a powerhouse in European basketball.

2-pointers this season

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His intentions have been manifest in the signings of Nando De Colo and Joffrey Lauvergne, among others, but he does not intend to stop there. Nicolas Batum, who has had a share in the French club since 2007, could be up next.

It has already been rumored that ASVEL plan to significantly increase the budget in the next few seasons, which would go over 20,000,000 euros, and Tony Parker tickled the imagination of basketball fans before the match featuring his team and Baskonia on Friday night. In fact, he jokingly suggested that the club could be joined by Nicolas Batum.

Just before the end of his TV interview, Parker pointed out that Batum could return to French basketball next season after more than a decade in the NBA.

David Cozette, the show's main presenter, commented that ASVEL currently have three of the best French players in history, referring to Parker, Batum and De Colo.

Stephen Brun, the other host, said, "If Nico wants to end his NBA career soon, it would be nice to see him here next season."

Tony Parker's response was disarming: "There are discussions. We’ll see. Seriously," the French basketball legend uttered and left.

"ASVEL is a historic club in France. Tony has developed a real project and connected more activities into a club. I believe in the project and I want to contribute to its development," Batum has said.

Batum kicked off his career at Le Mans when he was named France's best young player for two years in a row.

He joined the NBA in 2008, first at Portland, where he remained until 2015. He spent the next five seasons with Charlotte and is now a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Nicolas Batum is linked to the Clippers until 2024, with a contract that ASVEL probably cannot match. The wingman must receive $22 million over two years, without a player option, so even if he asks to leave the Californian franchise, it's up to the Clippers to decide.

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