Nicolas Batum wants to play for two more years, would love to play with Joel Embiid / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

French forward Nicolas Batum, who's also the captain of the French national team, spoke with L'Equipe about his future and the potential addition of Joel Embiid to the French national team.

Nicolas Batum

MIN:24.98PTS:8.2 (47.27%)REB:4.38As:1.69ST:1.02BL:0.7TO:0.67GM:61ProfileNBA2021/2022

The L.A. Clippers player has already announced that he won't play at EuroBasket in September in order to prepare better for the next season and take some more time with his family during the offseason.

"It annoys me a bit that people didn't understand my decision", Batum said. "I never said that I wanted to rest, I'm not tired. But I want to be ready. I want to play for two more years and ideally, that would be a long season with the Clippers, then World Cup, then another long season with the Clippers, and the Olympic Games in Paris".

"In order to do this, non-stop, I need to prepare in the best way possible", Batum continued. "So this summer I'm gonna work hard, it's not gonna be lazing on the beach".

The veteran player also commented about the potential addition of Joel Embiid to the French national team. The Philadelphia 76ers star might receive the French passport before the end of the summer and be available to play with the national team.

"I can understand that this move could be considered 'ethically' wrong by someone", Batum explained. "But from a basketball standpoint, I put myself on both sides, player-captain and fan of the game, a pairing of Joel Embiid and Rudy Gobert...wow, that would be amazing. Of course, we're gonna discuss this thing as a group but we're talking about a fantastic hypothesis".

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