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Par Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Journaliste sportif
Perceived as a man in the shadows at the Clippers, Nicolas Batum has perhaps never found himself so much in the spotlight. Following his exploits in Game 6 against the Nuggets, Norman Powell had some strong words to say about him.
Being in the spotlight isn’t exactly his style. Even less so in recent years. Over the course of his career, Nicolas Batum’s statistical output on the floor has declined. As a result, fans and media alike have been reluctant to highlight his performances, despite the fact that they are invaluable to each of his teams. Just ask the Clippers, where his impact was felt once again on Thursday.
Norman Powell sets the record straight on Nicolas Batum
A substitute at the start of Game 6 between the Clippers and Nuggets, Batum finished the game in Tyronn Lue’s starting five. A fitting reward, given his contribution to the Clippers’ crucial 111-105 victory. Asked about his performance in the post-match press conference, Norman Powell was not surprised. After all, the Frenchman has already shown in his career that he’s a man for the big occasions:
Norman Powell: Nico is the most experienced player on our team. He’s been playing professionally for a long time. I always joke with him about his years in the NBA, but he’s been playing at a very high level in the pros since he was a teenager, so he knows how to be ready and prepared for this kind of game. The stakes are never too high for Nico.
Drafted in 2015, Powell draws on a wealth of experience himself, and has also been doing his franchise proud since the start of the season thanks to his talent. A talent he acquired by taking his cue from… Nico:
Norman Powell: I always say I was a big fan of his when I came into the league as a rookie.
I admired the way he shot the ball, ran screens away from the ball, things like that. Many of the younger players in the dressing room are unaware of just how good Nico Batum was in his younger days.
A mere role player in the eyes of the younger players, Batman was one of his team-mate’s idols a few years ago. Now, the two men successfully share the Clips dressing room, where they enjoy a good understanding that supposedly allows the American to heckle his French counterpart:
Norman Powell: No, I don’t count his international years. Not when it comes to the NBA! He always tries to include them, but I refuse. If we’re talking about his professional career, then yes. But the years spent in the NBA are different.
