Beloved Clippers veteran announces his retirement

Now 37 years old, Batum was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2008 after initially starting his pro career in his native France. Batum rapidly emerged as one of the NBA’s best do-it-all role players, impacting games with his three-point shooting, defense, passing, and extra-effort hustle plays.

Playing 18 total seasons in the league, Batum suited up for four different teams (the Blazers, the Clippers, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Philadelphia 76ers). He posted overall career averages of 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.

Batum’s elite ability to serve as a lineup connector made him a beloved fan favorite, especially for the Clippers. After first joining the team in 2020, he was a important cog for the team’s first-ever Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021 and went on to play six total seasons in LA.

The 6-foot-7 Batum contributed to winning almost everywhere else that he went too, including helping France to back-to-back Olympic silver medals in 2020 and 2024 and producing a very memorable NBA postseason moment a couple of years ago as well. Now Batum is ready to hang up his sneakers after more than two decades as a pro and over $200 million in NBA salary.