French forward Nicolas Batum suffered a poor performance on Wednesday in a loss to Spain that ended their run in the Rio Olympics. He managed zero points and zero rebounds in eighteen minutes of play, however the Charlotte Hornets star believes that there was a reason for it.
When speaking to The Charlotte Observer’s Scott Fowler, Batum made it clear that his role for the France team differs to his role in Charlotte.
“The way this national team is built, they don’t ask me to do the same things,” Batum said. “They don’t ask me to do what I did all year in Charlotte, the things I was successful at all year.”
He’s right: he was successful all last year. The 27 year old averaged 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Hornets, being one of the team’s leaders. Whilst the change in role can be frustrating, Batum is willing to make sacrifices in order to represent his country.
“I have to push my ego to the side and work for the team. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past two years (on the national team). I knew we could win anyway. I could do more, but they ask me to do it this way. So I do it.”
Batum went out of his way to reassure any worried Hornets fans that they will see the same guy in Buzz City next year when he steps on the honeycombed court.
“I will be the same guy in Charlotte,” Batum said, “because I will have the ball in my hands more again.”
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