Clippers should offer Nicolas Batum golden opportunity following retirement news

After publicly mentioning the idea of retirement for quite some time, Nicolas Batum has hung up his laces and called it a career. Yes, that’s right, Batum’s playing days are over, as he made the news official through a social media post on X (formerly Twitter). That means no more no-dip three-pointers, extravagant defensive highlights, or being the voice the team needs when adversity hits. All we have are a handful of good memories to look back on over the years.

However, just because Batum is done suiting up for the LA Clippers doesn’t necessarily mean he has to step away from the game. The Clippers should offer the franchise legend a golden opportunity to join the coaching staff as an assistant coach, so he can still contribute to the team’s success from a different standpoint, with a unique set of responsibilities.

This is a very common route, and some prominent examples include Taj Gibson with the Chicago Bulls, Jared Dudley with the Denver Nuggets, and Tim Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs.

Nicolas Batum would make an excellent assistant coach for the Clippers

Because Nicolas Batum gave the sport every ounce of energy he had, as he played until there was absolutely nothing left in the tank, it makes perfect sense why he might be open to entering coaching.

And, on the flip side, the LA Clippers’ sidelines would get a massive boost in various ways.

To the table, Batum brings top-tier NBA experience across multiple teams and, in the offseason, for his home country, France, which is huge, plus a set of eyes that sees the game differently than most.

As a result, he may be able to point out something valuable to Tyronn Lue that wasn’t originally known amid an intense matchup, draw up a play to score an easy basket, or even be the reason a key improvement is made through the film room.

Additionally, if that weren’t enough, Batum’s 18-year career would help tremendously in developing younger talent. This is particularly beneficial for the Clippers, as they’ve begun a youth movement and are solely focused on building for the future.

Given that Batum has seen everything imaginable over the span of his 18-year career, it would be a chess move to bring him on as an assistant.

And, of course, the fans would love it. They already miss him, even though he just announced his retirement.