Team 2008-09: PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (USA-NBA)
Career: Le Mans (France Pro A, 2004-08), Portland Trailblazers (USA-NBA, 2008-...).
Nicolas Batum's way to stardom has greatly accelerated these past two years. A European star in all youth categories: Winner with the U16 in 2005, winner and MVP with the U18 in 2006 and Silver medal at the 2007 U19 World Championship. He made a name for himself during the 2007 Hoop Summit, in which he was a clear MVP. Probably the best European player from the 1988 generation with Italy and Knicks star, Danilo Gallinari, there were some doubts about Nico's ability to fight for playing time in a tough and sometimes very individual NBA environment. The talent was there, but some journalists were comparing Batum to a dear in a car's head lights... Well, in only one season, starting 76 of his 79 games played, he turned out to be much more than the "Bambi" talented child that some of us described. Forced to a stupid trip to Portland a few days before the Qualification finals, to check a little shoulder injury, he was a bit perturbed by this unnecessary 64 hours trip back to Oregon. But Batum is now, with the absence of Mike Piétrus, a key player for a French team a bit short in depth on the wings.
