Nicolas Batum, a versatile player for the Los Angeles Clippers and member of the French national team, shares his journey from France to the NBA, reflecting on guarding legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He discusses how the Warriors' small ball revolution extended his career and candidly addresses challenges during his time with the Hornets. Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets weighs in on coaching changes and the ongoing NBA Finals, offering insights into team dynamics and player strategies during high-stakes moments.
01:24:07
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insights INSIGHT
Finals Defensive-Offensive Clash
OKC's defensive principles make them tough to exploit despite Indy’s relentless pace.
Indy’s pressure offense challenges OKC, but elite defense and adjustments shape the Finals.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Batum's Rookie Kobe Moment
Nicolas Batum’s first NBA action was guarding Kobe Bryant during a game where his team was down 20.
Surprisingly, Kobe missed his shots against Batum in that rookie moment, boosting Batum's confidence.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Mentoring Through Example
When mentoring younger players, lead by example rather than just instructing.
Advise them simply: avoid stupidity on and off the court to sustain your NBA career.
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On this week’s episode we welcome Nicolas Batum of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets. Cam joins at the start of the episode to discuss the New York Knicks firing head coach Tom Thibodeau and his thoughts on the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Then, Batum joins the show to preview the Finals as well before talking us through the rest of his career, including what it was like growing up in France and his experiences guarding prime Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James at the beginning of his career. He also shares what he learned from Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge at the start of his career on the Blazers. Then, he discusses how the 2015 Warriors changed the game, and why he feels their small ball lineup extended his NBA career. He also shares very candidly why his Charlotte Hornets stint was difficult, the criticisms about his contract at the time, and how he feels Ty Lue and the Clippers saved his career. Lastly, he discusses his career on the French national team, the Olympics, and meeting Victor Wembanyama at the young age. Let’s go!
0:00 Intro
0:17 Cam Johnson
14:20 Nicolas Batum
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The Young Man and the Three 