The Los Angeles Clippers benefited from having Nicolas Batum on the roster, especially in the 2025 NBA playoffs. Batum’s expertise helped the Clippers push the Denver Nuggets to seven games in the first round of the postseason. However, his time with the team could end as he has a $4.9 million player option that he can either exercise or ignore.
During the 2024-25 NBA season, Batum served as a veteran leader for the Clippers. He returned to the team after he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2023-24 campaign. In 78 games, the Frenchman averaged four points and 2.8 rebounds on 43.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
In the postseason, however, Batum stepped up and played an all-around game. He averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and two assists in 24.6 mintues of action. In Game 3, the 6-foot-8 forward helped the Clippers with his 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks to give the team a 117-83 win.
The 17-year veteran did it again in Game 6 when he had six points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks. His performance gave L.A. a 111-105 victory.
Given his impact on both ends, the Clippers would want to welcome him back. Batum has two options: either he exericises his player option or he opts out and signs a new deal with the organization.
President of basketball operations for the Clippers, Lawrence Frank, expressed his desire to bring Batum back for the 2025-26 campaign.
“In regards to Nico, yes, 1000 percent, we hope that Nico comes back,” Frank said via ESPN contributor Farbod Esnaashari. “It was a dark, dark, dark day for all of us when we had to include Nico in the trade. We said it when we brought him back, one of the best connectors in the NBA.”
The report was backed up by an update by Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.
“Despite mulling retirement last offseason and having a player option for the 2025-26 season, Nicolas Batum is expected to return to the Clippers next season.”
Despite mulling retirement last offseason and having a player option for the 2025-26 season, Nicolas Batum is expected to return to the Clippers next season. https://t.co/kW0TBNhees
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) May 5, 2025
Veterean star still has the support of the Los Angeles Clippers
In Game 7 against the Nuggets, fans criticized James Harden for his subpar performance. The Los Angeles Clippers star had seven points, five rebounds and 13 assists on 25 percent shooting from the field. Even with that, however, Frank still believes in Harden and what he can do.
“And at his age to deliver what he did…[He played in] 79 games, and he does that time and time and time again. We have a deep appreciation for that sort of availability and to be able to deliver and do what he did…We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year,” the executive said.
Given that Harden has a $36.3 million player option, Frank said that he and the Los Angeles Clippers are ready to make a contingency contract that will work well for both parties.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
