Batum talks about Embiid's injury, his role in the team and Wembanyama / News - Basketnews.com

Seasoned French player Nicolas Batum of the Philadelphia 76ers remarked on the situation of his team with Joel Embiid's injury and praised his young compatriot, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

Credit: Getty Images via AFP-Scanpix Credit Getty Images via AFP-Scanpix

Nicolas Batum of the Philadelphia 76ers has been in the NBA for 13 seasons since 2008. He only made a one-time detour in SLUC Basket Nancy for the 2011-12 season, making him one of the most memorable French players in the NBA in the 2010s.

2-pointers this season

53%29,7Points made:29,7Accuracy:52,5%Place in standings:11Record max:43Record min:20Most made 2FGs:Tyrese MaxeyTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

Aged 35, Batum still plays an important role for his team, contributing to the team's defensive effort and attempting to utilize years of experience in the meantime.

In an interview with Sportskeeda, the veteran forward elaborated on his role within the 76ers and talked about the impact of Joel Embiid's injury.

"It's not easy," Batum said about Embiid's injury. "We didn't give up. We've had bad games, for sure. But we keep playing. We try to get games like today [against the Los Angeles Clippers] as much as we can," he explained.

"But it's not easy to be without your best player. But we still have guys that are good players and that are finding ways to win," he said, crediting his teammates for providing offensive firepower in the absence of Embiid.

Batum is a valuable player for the City of Brotherly Love in his own right. Team coach Nick Nurse mainly gives him defensive tasks, which Batum has been specializing in for his entire career thanks to his mismatch-creating physique.

"That's been pretty much my job for the last ten years now. I don't have the same legs now, but I still try to do it," the French international said. "It really depends on matchups and depends on the game," he stated before elaborating.

"With a small guy, I have to be smarter and not rush myself. With a big guy, I have to be quicker than them. It’s pretty much different with each position. But I have to find a way every time," Batum noted.

While he is not as explosive and mobile as he was ten years ago, Batum still has something to look forward to in terms of the development of French basketball in Victor Wembanyama, the generational talent from the San Antonio Spurs who has been rocking the NBA since being drafted in 2023.

"I think the Rookie of the Year race is pretty much set. That's what people say, and I think it is," said Batum.

"I saw Pop [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] say something one time, and I agree with him. He said, 'Maybe this will be the worst season of Wemby,'" Batum recalled. "Can you imagine? This might be the worst season of his career. That’s scary," he said in praise of his young countryman.

In his 13th NBA season, Batum is averaging 5.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game with the Philadelphia 76ers.

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