The Charlotte Hornets aren’t playing to their potential so far this season. While the team sport a number of talented pieces, they are just 9-16 through their first 25 games. They’re currently on a three-game losing streak, and have won just once over their last seven games.
Apart from his team’s struggles, Hornets forward Nicolas Batum is also being worried by his bothersome elbow, which he hurt prior to this season, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
Article Continues Below“Since I got back three weeks ago, it’s really, really bothered my game. It’s really bothered me,” Batum told the Observer. “It’s (affected) my performance. I can’t be myself.
Batum has missed a total of 12 games this season because of a tear in his UCL he sustained in a preseason game back in October. Since his return, the 28-year-old Hornets swingman has slowly been eased into the rotation right away. Batum is averaging 10.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game across 12 contests.
Nicolas Batum’s comments came after the Hornets picked up a 110-99 loss at home last Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers in which he scored just two points in 19 minutes of action. Prior to that, he put up just nine points despite seeing 42 minutes on the floor during a 119-111 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls also at home.
The Hornets will hit the road Monday to play the Oklahoma City Thunder, hoping that Nicolas Batum can finally get out of his funk despite his nagging elbow issue.