Sports

At 1,006 games and counting, Clippers’ Nicolas Batum is one of NBA’s survivors

Published

1 year ago

December 25, 2022

At 1,006 games and counting, Clippers’ Nicolas Batum is one of NBA’s survivors

PHILADELPHIA —

Clippers teammates had been gathering in the important thing and coaches had been speaking in a circle at midcourt, however Nicolas Batum was in no hurry to go away his courtside chair and start shootaround on a late November morning.

Solely weeks from his thirty fourth birthday, the wing turned his eyes towards the empty higher deck of Portland’s Moda Heart and his reminiscences of the youthful model of himself that spent his first seven seasons with the Path Blazers.

“It’s a particular place,” Batum stated. “I grew up right here.”

Rising up within the NBA requires absorbing typically painful classes. Rising outdated within the league, nonetheless, is reserved for the few who can put what they’ve realized into motion. Batum, with 1,006 video games on his resume together with the common season and playoffs, counts as a survivor, a long life he traces to the primary, and maybe essentially the most enduring, profession lesson he took in weeks earlier than his first official recreation.

It was the summer season of 2008, not lengthy after an NBA introduction at Summer season League so dismal that the 19-year-old rookie quietly started telling himself, earlier than arriving in Portland for offseason exercises, simply to get by means of his first contract.

Then-Path Blazers assistant Monty Williams sized up Batum and rolled out the welcome mat.

“He actually advised me, ‘You assume you’re hungry, you need it dangerous, however don’t fear, there’s one other Nic Batum coming subsequent 12 months — after which the subsequent 12 months, as a result of there’s a draft yearly,’” Batum recalled with a smile from his courtside chair. “Getting drafted is hard. Taking part in within the NBA is tough. Staying within the NBA is actually arduous. And I’ll always remember that.”

It’s why he has additionally by no means forgotten the way it felt to be on the verge of prematurely dropping his place within the league, within the fall of 2020, questioning whether or not he had been lastly changed by the subsequent wave of long-armed, multi-positional wings. As soon as one of many Hornets’ centerpieces beneath coach Steve Clifford, Batum had been consigned to the bench as Charlotte underwent a youth motion beneath new coach James Borrego, and after a career-worst season, he was waived to make room for the signing of Gordon Hayward.

“Two years in the past, I didn’t assume I might be in that spot as we speak nonetheless taking part in main minutes, have a job for a contending workforce, no,” Batum stated. “I used to be extra about retirement.”

Dealing with the identical Hornets on Wednesday, Batum made seven of his 10 three-pointers, figured closely within the Clippers’ closing lineups alongside Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and supplied contemporary reminders why his profession renaissance continues 15 seasons in.

A few of that’s well being — Batum is the one Clipper to have appeared in each recreation this season. However he additionally continues to earn minutes over youthful wings due to his accrued data, the oldest Clipper additionally the wisest.

Batum’s worth, stated coach Tyronn Lue lies in the truth that the participant raised in slightly city close to Normandy, France, guards bruising facilities comparable to Joel Embiid some nights, attempting to tire them out earlier than they will set their ft within the paint. Some nights he hounds guards comparable to Jamal Murray once they acquire the inbounds go, attempting to disrupt their stream 94 ft from the rim. Generally Batum fills the necessity of a nook three-point sniper, others a rebounding ahead.

In different phrases, day by day he fills the function of Clippers’ fulcrum, the regular man within the center balancing a roster that may teeter between championship contender and injured inconsistency.

Clippers ahead Nicolas Batum contests a shot by Spurs ahead Keita Bates-Diop on Nov. 4 in San Antonio.

(Nick Wagner / Related Press)

Clifford, an NBA coach for greater than twenty years, known as Batum certainly one of his “favorites.”

“It’s basketball IQ,” stated Clifford, who coached Batum throughout profession seasons in factors throughout his first stint in Charlotte. “Each ends of the ground decision-making, understanding the place the ball ought to go earlier than you catch it. That was once lots of guys. There’s only a few gamers like that now.”

Earlier than practices, he follows the identical, strict choreographed capturing routine. He takes care of his physique. He was in no hurry to start shootaround in Portland final month as a result of he had already been on the courtroom for a half hour, capturing, earlier than his teammates arrived.

“After what occurred to me in Charlotte I promised myself, particularly with the French nationwide workforce, I’m like … ‘I’m going to do every part so I’ll retire the way in which I would like,’” stated Batum, who has performed in three Olympics for France, incomes a silver medal in 2021, and for apparent causes hopes to play in 2024 in the course of the Paris Video games. “That’s the angle I’ve now. Going to maintain working and I imply, they’re going to should kick me out. Good luck with that.”

After Batum averaged 40% three-point capturing and 26 minutes throughout his first two seasons with the Clippers, Batum opted out of a participant choice final July and have become an unrestricted free agent. When his agent known as final summer season on the eve of free company, he advised Batum a couple of dozen groups hoped to make their pitch — and that was solely the playoff groups.

However at about the identical time, Batum’s 6-year-old son requested whether or not he must change faculties, and Batum empathized with the reluctance to go away a spot he’d come to like. Batum has a deep appreciation for and belief in Lue, whom he credit with resuscitating his profession. And so he by no means thought-about leaving, his re-signing to a two-year, $22 million deal a fait accompli.

His free-agency thought course of started and ended with one, sarcastic query: Nicely, is Ty Lue coming with me elsewhere? After all not. Then why would I ever depart?

“He’s been precious yearly he’s been right here,” Lue stated.

Expertise has taught him to not take as a right the nice occasions. Throughout his first six seasons in Portland, Batum grew right into a core piece as a result of, within the recollection of Williams, now the Phoenix Suns’ coach, Batum developed the survival instincts which have stored him within the league.

“Generally if you happen to inform a man ‘Do that, this and this’ they turn into robotic,” Williams stated. “He didn’t do this. He stored the ‘canine’ and stored rising as a participant.

“And he had this drive about him that I didn’t know till I noticed him play in opposition to guys he had grown up with, particularly Pau Gasol. He needed to dunk on Pau each probability he acquired and I used to be similar to, ‘What’s up with that?’ It was a nationwide workforce factor and that’s how I form of realized he had a streak.”

Williams laughed whereas saying one thing else he realized: Often quiet and genteel, Batum would curse out coaches by wagging his finger and clucking his tongue. And it was with frustration that he left Portland after seven seasons.

Wanting a psychological break in the course of the 2014 offseason, Batum didn’t wish to play for France in the summertime’s World Cup. He confirmed up, anyway, and left with all-tournament honors — and burnout.

Trail Blazers' Nicolas Batum reacts to a call during Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinal game.

“I obtain my award and I got here again to my resort, and [told my wife], ‘I’m going to remorse this this 12 months,’” he stated. “I didn’t get pleasure from it.”

Lower than a 12 months later Batum was traded to Charlotte, a commerce he realized of whereas on his sofa in Paris, after he shot then career-lows of 32% on three-pointers and 48% contained in the arc and didn’t enhance within the postseason.

“I perceive why I acquired traded, and I ought to have finished extra, perhaps,” he stated. It’s one a part of what he known as the one “what-if?” second of his profession — might Portland, with its roster constructed round LaMarcus Aldridge’s put up fadeaways and Damian Lillard’s perimeter magic and robust supporting forged, have made a championship push in 2016 and past had the roster stayed wholesome and never damaged up by free company and trades?

Batum doesn’t need what-ifs to cloud his remaining NBA years. Wanting a break forward of what he presumed may very well be a prolonged fifteenth season, he skipped taking part in internationally with France final summer season. When Lue met with him in Paris in August to inform him his function would change due to a wing-heavy roster, Batum shrugged and advised the coach to easily inform him what to do. And when the Clippers stumbled out of the gate it was Batum — as he endured his personal rocky begin capturing — who preached endurance over panic, saying it could take maybe two months to seek out rhythm.

Final June, after Batum dropped in to look at younger prospects work out forward of the draft in entrance of Clippers’ executives, certainly one of them, a long-armed French ahead named Moussa Diabate, turned to Batum, exhausted, having simply accomplished his 20^th draft exercise. The Clippers later drafted Diabate, and Batum has doled out classes throughout their first months collectively. However on that day, in that first assembly, Batum knew simply what to say.

“He was like, ‘In the event you assume that’s arduous, think about the NBA, whenever you even have to stay now,’” Diabate stated.

Sports

NFL schedule 2024 winners and losers: Caleb Williams has chance to thrive; Jets face treacherous slate

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

NFL schedule 2024 winners and losers: Caleb Williams has chance to thrive; Jets face treacherous slate

We’re nearly halfway between the conclusion of the NFL’s 2023 season and the dawn of its next season.

And now finally, teams and their fan bases can appropriately prepare for the upcoming slate. While teams have known their opponents for quite some time, now they can handle the logistical preparations for the 2024 season.

Not all schedules are created equal, of course. (And no, this has nothing to do with the formula to determine opponents with these unbalanced schedules. That process is just dandy.)

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Glance through the quirks of each team’s schedule, and anyone can find a few gripes and even some friendly bounces. That’s where we come in, as we run through some of the winners and losers from the 2024 NFL schedule reveal.

WINNERS

Chicago Bears

The Bears are gearing up for their most anticipated season in decades with the arrival of quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze to headline their exciting offseason. Those big-ticket personnel moves came on the heels of an impressive 5-3 finish to the season that drew the attention of front offices around the league.

More reason for optimism: The Bears have the third-easiest strength of schedule (.467) based on their opponents’ records in 2023.

Of note, Williams may get a chance to square off against fellow top-three picks Jayden Daniels (Commanders, Week 8) and Drake Maye (Patriots, Week 10) in a three-week stretch.

Find the best deals on tickets to see your favorite teams.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons and Saints are tied for the easiest strength of schedule in 2024, based on their opponents’ records from last season (.453). While this could just be an NFC South thing — the four divisional foes rank in the top six in strength-of-schedule ease — the Falcons are the team with the shiny new quarterback(s).

Veteran Kirk Cousins is expected to boost a team that is coming off three consecutive 7-10 records, and the league has backed Atlanta’s excitement with four prime-time games.

The Falcons have a tough early schedule, but four of their first five games are at home, which helps mitigate the challenge. If Cousins hasn’t recovered from his torn Achilles, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is going to have a heck of a welcome to the NFL, as the Falcons open with the Steelers, Eagles and Chiefs right out of the chute.

Dallas Cowboys

It won’t be hard to find the Cowboys on TV. They’re tied with the 49ers and Jets with a league-high six prime-time games, as they’re scheduled to face the Giants, Steelers, Niners, Texans, Bengals and Bucs after dark.

They’ve also got five games in that marquee 4:25 p.m. ET time slot that tends to draw a heavy spotlight. And let’s throw in a Thanksgiving matinee against the Giants to top it off.

The Cowboys only have four 1 p.m. kickoffs plus the TBD start time in the finale against Washington.

It’s going to be a busy year with the Cowboys, as the storyline regarding the heat on head coach Mike McCarthy coupled with the looming availability of Bill Belichick doesn’t seem to be going away. Quarterback Dak Prescott’s expiring contract is another major focus in Dallas, along with the pending negotiations with linebacker Micah Parsons and receiver CeeDee Lamb. All of this after another early playoff disappointment, and the Cowboys in prime time will be a broadcaster’s dream.

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The Week 14 bye week draw

Somehow, six teams have the last bye of the season, which is tied with Week 12 for the most byes in a given week. The Patriots, Ravens, Texans, Colts, Broncos and Commanders will get a welcomed chance to rest in early December.

On the flip side, it may be wise to avoid stocking up on fantasy players from those teams in case you’ve got a must-win matchup in the regular-season finale.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift should have plenty of reason to celebrate this year as the Kansas City Chiefs look like they have a pretty light schedule. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

Taylor Swift’s favorite team

The two-time defending champs enter the season with five prime-time games, but it’d hardly be a shock to see the Chiefs get flexed into an extra window before it’s all done.

Sure, the Chiefs have a tough opening pair of games against the Ravens and Bengals, but they’re both at home. And after raising the Super Bowl banner and then losing to the Lions last season, Chiefs coach Andy Reid shouldn’t have a problem getting his team’s attention.

The Chiefs also take on the NFC South, so they caught a break with that one.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders won’t be racking up many frequent flier miles. They travel a league-low 10,550 miles this season, according to Bookies.com. Twelve teams are traveling at least twice that many miles on road trips.

Commanders to travel fewer miles than every other team. Nine home games plus at Baltimore and only one road trip west of the Mississippi will do that. https://t.co/D28jPLn2rs
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 15, 2024
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LOSERS

New York Jets

The Jets’ Achilles’ heel in 2024 may be their early-season schedule. (Too soon?)

Six of their first 11 games are in prime time, which will work to their benefit if they get off to a hot start and send a message to the rest of the league. But if things go south, the Jets have seen when they’re overcome with negative attention. And remember, prime-time games come with wonky scheduling quirks, including a Monday-Sunday stretch with the Bills and Steelers and a Sunday-Thursday string with the Patriots and Texans from Weeks 6-9.

They open with three games in 11 days, including road trips against the 49ers and Titans before opening at home against the Patriots. Although again, since many teams have daunting stretches in a short spurt, it’s an advantage to get it out of the way at the start of the season when they’re theoretically healthier and better rested.

But for those obstacles to turn into advantages, the Jets are going to have to answer some early-season tests.

On the road … again

The Bills, Browns, Bears and Vikings each have the unenviable task of playing three road games in three weeks.

The Bills’ stretch happens from Weeks 4-6 against the Ravens, Texans and Jets. Compounding the issue, they also visit the Dolphins in Week 2. That’s a date that always draws an eye roll from the Dolphins’ AFC East foes due to the heat.

The Browns’ stretch also goes from Weeks 4-6 against the Raiders, Commanders and Eagles.

The Bears will have a pivotal swing from Weeks 13-15 when they visit the Lions, 49ers and Vikings. For a team with real playoff hopes, the Bears are going to need to survive that series of hurdles.

The Vikings head out to meet the Jaguars, Titans and Bears from Weeks 10-12.

Another bye-week quirk

As if the 49ers’ schedule wasn’t challenging enough, they’ll play the Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys and Seahawks all coming off their byes.

The Colts will play three teams coming off their byes (Dolphins, Titans, Broncos), but Indy will be coming off its own bye for the Denver game.

Four teams will play two opponents coming off their byes, without the benefit of coming off a bye week themselves. Those are the Dolphins (Texans, Raiders), Commanders (Steelers, Bears), Saints (Browns, Commanders) and Seahawks (Jets, Cardinals).

Twelve teams won’t play anyone coming off a bye: Bills, Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Bengals, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Vikings, Packers, Panthers and Falcons. So, hey, good for them.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are the only team in the league without a prime-time game, which isn’t a surprise considering they just had the worst record in the NFL.

Not just that, but they’ve got to visit Chicago in Week 5 to get a firsthand look at the QB whom the Bears drafted with the Panthers’ top pick in April. So as the Panthers continue to reel after the Bryce Young–C.J. Stroud decision, they’ve got to hope for a bounce back in 2024 that includes Young outdueling Caleb Williams.

Drake Maye’s spotlight

As if the No. 3 pick doesn’t have enough pressure on him — the ongoing search for Tom Brady’s replacement extending into the first season of the post-Bill Belichick era, in case you’ve forgotten — the Patriots might be taking on the most loaded schedule of quarterbacks in the NFL in 2024.

Maybe the Patriots will just go with Jacoby Brissett. Or maybe Maye will play well, and the Patriots will exceed expectations.

If Maye and the Patriots struggle, however? Yeah, they’ll get a glimpse of how far he’s got to go. And surely, very little of this would be fair to Maye for jumping into the fray with a roster that has major holes on offense.

But the fact is this. They’re scheduled for two tilts each against Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers and Tua Tagovailoa. They’ll visit Caleb Williams and the Bears. They’ll host 2023 first-rounders C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson. They’ll also greet Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy and Kyler Murray.

Injuries will likely erase some of those matchups, but those QBs currently are the Patriots’ adversaries in 15 of their 17 games.

The Patriots’ primary goal in 2024 will be to develop Maye to create optimism and momentum for 2025. Everything else takes a back seat. But in the NFL where every storyline is hyper-magnified, Maye won’t get much of a reprieve from his opposing quarterbacks.

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Old-school remote controls

The NFL has more streamers than a Dunder Mifflin party.

With games now streaming on every platform short of your nephew’s YouTube channel, viewers of a certain age will surely roll their eyes when it’s time to determine which platform is carrying any given national game. Or even if you’re technologically savvy, you’ll still need a moment to mentally prepare if you’re planning to flip between channels during commercials.

The future is here, and we’ll embrace it appropriately, but it’s a slower crawl for some.

The Christmas slate

The Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans games have a chance to carry a ton of significance, so viewership will be strong. But all four teams will be required to make serious scheduling adjustments to handle a Wednesday game in Week 17.

It essentially amounts to two consecutive short weeks, as each team will play Saturday in Week 16 before the Wednesday game in Week 17. That’ll lead to three games in 11 days for all four teams, which isn’t an unprecedented stretch but is surely an inconvenient one at that stage of the calendar.

(Photo illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic; photos of Aaron Rodgers, Caleb Williams and Dak Prescott: Cooper Neill, Michael Reaves and Nick Cammett / Getty Images)

Sports

Bronny James says the winner of a 1-on-1 game with his father LeBron James remains 'to be determined'

Published

3 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Bronny James says the winner of a 1-on-1 game with his father LeBron James remains 'to be determined'

Bronny James has been one of the most talked about prospects at this year’s NBA Scouting Combine.

James met with the media at the combine and fielded a round of rapid-fire questions. One of the questions brought up a hypothetical one-on-one game with an NBA player.

“If you could challenge any NBA player to a one-on-one, who would it be and why?” the reporter asked.

“LeBron James, because I have not played him one-on-one in a minute,” Bronny replied.

Bronny James (6) of the West team talks to LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers after the 2023 McDonald’s High School Boys All-American Game at Toyota Center March 28, 2023, in Houston. (Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

The reporter followed up by asking Bronny, “Who would win it?”

“That I don’t know. … To be determined,” the younger James responded.

BRONNY JAMES: ‘I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT PLAYING WITH MY DAD’

The 19-year-old, whose full name is LeBron Raymone James Jr., also does not seem interested in passing his name to a potential future child.

“If you have a son, will you name them LeBron James III?”

“Absolutely not,” Bronny responded.

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James went into cardiac arrest during preseason workouts at the USC basketball team’s home arena last summer. James played 25 games his freshman season and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Bronny James and LeBron James handshake on stage

Bronny James and Bryce James present LeBron James with the best record-breaking performance award onstage during the 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre July 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Calif. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Bronny was also asked to share his thoughts on the outcome of a potential game between him and his younger brother Bryce. Bronny was confident he would easily defeat Bryce.

“I’m winning, 11-5,” Bronny said.

Bryce James looks on during a Lakers game

Bryce James and Bronny James during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena Feb. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

LeBron James had previously shared his hope to play in the NBA alongside his son, but after the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff exit, he said he had not “given much thought lately” to that wish.

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself and, of course, get to the NBA,” Bronny James said Tuesday. “I never thought about playing with my dad. But, of course, he’s brought it up a couple times.

“This is a serious business. I don’t feel like there would be a thought of, ‘I’m just drafting this kid just because I’m gonna get his dad.’ I don’t think a GM would really allow that. I think I’ve put in the work, and I’ll get drafted because of not only the player but the person that I am.”

Bronny measured at a height of 6 feet, 1½ inches at the NBA Scouting Combine. He was listed at 6 feet, 4 inches at USC.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

Sports

City Section baseball: Top four seeds advance to Open Division semifinals

Published

4 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

City Section baseball: Top four seeds advance to Open Division semifinals

On the verge of another frustrating early exit from the City Section Open Division baseball playoffs, top-seeded Granada Hills rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out a 3-2 win over El Camino Real and advance to Tuesday’s semifinals at Pepperdine.

Devin Gonor took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, but two errors gave Granada Hills an opening to win. A bunt by Jackson Lyons tied the score 2-2. After a single by Jack Donohoe, Easton Hawk hit a walk-off single for the victory. Hawk threw a complete game, striking out eight and walking one. Gonor struck out seven with no walks.

The Royals scored two runs in the fourth. Brendan McClure had a sacrifice fly and Ethan Granillo delivered an RBI single.

Bell 3, Sylmar 0: Sophomore Jayden Rojas struck out 11 in six innings to lead No. 4-seeded Bell into Tuesday’s Open Division semifinals at 2:30 p.m. at Pepperdine against Granada Hills. Freshman Gustavo Ramirez had two hits, including a three-run double in the fifth inning.

Birmingham 8, San Pedro 0: The No. 2-seeded Patriots received a two-hit shutout from Michael Figueroa. Ernesto Martinez had two hits and three RBIs. Figueroa had a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the seventh.

Carson 4, Cleveland 3: Sergio Padilla delivered a walk-off single in the eighth inning as the No. 3-seeded Colts advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals against Birmingham at 11:30 a.m. at Pepperdine.