Nicolas Batum reveals the reasons behind him stepping away from basketball after 21 years

After 21 years in professional basketball, including 18 NBA seasons, Nicolas Batum has stepped away from the sport. At 37, Batum walks away from the league as one of the most underrated players in recent history.

He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers, but he also played for three other teams: the Portland Trail Blazers, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Philadelphia 76ers. He was a fan favorite across all teams, which is why plenty of people are affected by his retirement.

Batum entered the league in 2008 when he was drafted by the Houston Rockets, who traded him to Portland on Draft night. Since he entered the league, he has been a reliable role player who knocked down shots, made plays, and played impressive defense.

Across the 1,205 regular season games he played, he averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and three assists per game. His best season came during the 2016-17 season when he averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for the Hornets.

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Since he played for a long time, people got used to seeing Batum on their screens. He was always a reliable hand, but unfortunately, it did not result in him winning a championship.

Despite that, he has stepped away from basketball as a happy man. In his retirement announcement, he also announced the reason behind his decision.

"You see, my father's basketball career ended because he died, so he never got to carry on with his life. I can. Maybe that's why I'm most proud, and I'm happy today. That's why I'm okay to not be a player anymore," Batum said to his son in his retirement video.

"I can finally start a new life, one I didn't get to have as a kid. A life like yours, with your dad. I can do what my father couldn't."

It is an emotional day for Batum because he has stepped away from basketball on the same day that his father passed away back in 1991. Now, Batum is proud to end his career, so he can commit to being a full-time dad, something his dad only got to do for two years before his untimely passing.