Nicolas Batum: 'I'm scared to go home because we let a lot of people down'
Nicolas Batum was among them. In his return to the international basketball after the 2021 Olympic Games for the last World Cup of his career, the captain of France admitted he felt his “biggest disappointment” with the national team. “I’ve never been ashamed with this jersey but this is the first time I’m ashamed,” Batum said in the post-game presser. “I’m scared to go home because we let a lot of people down. A lot of people believed in us to do something special. We didn’t do it.”
Source: EuroHoops.net
Source: EuroHoops.net
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
After France’s shocking World Cup exit, Nicolas Batum says he’s ‘ashamed’ and ‘scared to go home’
cbssports.com/nba/news/after… – 3:23 PM
After France’s shocking World Cup exit, Nicolas Batum says he’s ‘ashamed’ and ‘scared to go home’
cbssports.com/nba/news/after… – 3:23 PM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
For the first time, Nicolas Batum feels ashamed with 🇫🇷 France jersey on his chest after being eliminated with a loss versus 🇱🇻 Latvia 😕
#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/Q9fZhSve87 – 2:14 PM
For the first time, Nicolas Batum feels ashamed with 🇫🇷 France jersey on his chest after being eliminated with a loss versus 🇱🇻 Latvia 😕
#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/Q9fZhSve87 – 2:14 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
France star Evan Fournier expressed his frustration over the team’s early World Cup exit while captain Nicolas Batum said he’s scared to go home
eurohoops.net/en/fibawc/1544… – 1:44 PM
France star Evan Fournier expressed his frustration over the team’s early World Cup exit while captain Nicolas Batum said he’s scared to go home
eurohoops.net/en/fibawc/1544… – 1:44 PM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
After falling early in FIBA World Cup, France quickly turns focus toward Paris Olympics. “I’m ashamed,” Nicolas Batum said.
apnews.com/article/basket… – 1:39 PM
After falling early in FIBA World Cup, France quickly turns focus toward Paris Olympics. “I’m ashamed,” Nicolas Batum said.
apnews.com/article/basket… – 1:39 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Can’t believe a team led by Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and Nic Batum flamed out in a basketball tournament, gonna need some time to digest this. – 12:25 PM
Can’t believe a team led by Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and Nic Batum flamed out in a basketball tournament, gonna need some time to digest this. – 12:25 PM
Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Batum with a chase down block on Dort earlier, now blocks Barrett’s jumper. Not bad for a 34 year old. – 10:10 AM
Batum with a chase down block on Dort earlier, now blocks Barrett’s jumper. Not bad for a 34 year old. – 10:10 AM
More on this storyline
Nicolas Batum: “It was my last World Cup, I missed summers but I did everything for this jersey. When we deprive ourselves of certain guys… We’ve been together, we’ve been putting something in place for years… The players, we screwed up, but it takes a lot of people to question themselves. I have one year left in the France team. We need everyone in Paris, the best conditions, everyone. I don’t give a damn about politics, we need the best team in France possible. I screwed up my last World Cup and it really pisses me off.” -via L’Equipe / August 27, 2023
Nicolas Batum (after elimination of the French team in the first round of the World Cup, at the microphone of beIN Sports): “It’s a big disappointment, that’s for sure, we broke down mentally, physically, they were very strong, we weren’t together. We cannot take them away. This match characterizes what has happened for five or six weeks. We are a very good team, we have shown that for several years. Everyone must question themselves after what happened this summer: coaches, players, Federation, up there. That we deprive ourselves of certain players (Thomas Heurtel, leader with 99 caps and four international medals, has been suspended from the French team for a year and his signing in Russia), that we lose players because of certain conditions. Everyone needs to be committed.” -via L’Equipe / August 27, 2023
Nicolas Batum is gearing up to captain France in pursuing a medal at the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup, and he plans to play with the National Team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. However, it appears that he will bid farewell to his professional basketball career after that. The seasoned forward had already announced his decision to retire from the National Team after the Paris Olympics, and his wife, Aurelie, recently shared on social media that he will indeed be concluding his entire career. “Nico decided to end his career (NBA and France team) after the Olympics, so this is his last season with the Clippers,” she posted on Twitter, as reported first by BeBasket. -via EuroHoops.net / August 15, 2023