Our exit interview series on the 2026 Clippers continues with beloved veteran forward Nic Batum.
Basic Information
Height: 6’7
Weight: 230 pounds
Position: Power Forward
Age: 37
Years in NBA: 18
Key Regular Season Stats (for Clippers): 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 turnovers in 17.5 minutes per game across 74 games played (6 starts) on 40.3/40.4/81.8 (3.1 3PA, 0.1 FTA) shooting splits (60.3 True Shooting)
Expectations
With the Clippers adding John Collins, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul over the summer, there was some thinking that Nico would be out of the rotation if the team was healthy – one of him, Paul, or Bogdan Bogdanovic made sense as the 11th man. However, considering Nico’s tenure with the team, his reliability, and his chemistry with the team’s best players, most people suspected Nico would stick in the primary rotation, albeit likely in a low-minute bench role. On the court, similar numbers to his last season with the team (minimal production, but good shooting and defense) seemed reasonable to expect.
Reality
Honestly, in terms of raw statistics, Nico’s 2026 campaign was almost identical to his 2025 season. He played in 74 games compared to 76 the year prior, averaged the identical number of minutes (17.5) and points (4.0) per game, with very similar figures in rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and turnovers as well. The shooting figures dipped in both three-point percentage and two-point percentage, but not horrifically.
Most notably, however, were the number of attempts from different parts of the court. Nico averaged just 0.1 two-point attempts per game, taking a mere 10 shots not behind the arc while playing 1295 minutes. In a similar vein, he attempted just 11 free throws all season. Nico had been slipping on offense as a non three-point shooter for years, but this season he hit his nadir – he just couldn’t provide anything offensively outside of swinging the ball and taking threes.
Nico also took a step back on defense. He’d been a fringe All-Defense level player for most of his Clippers’ tenure, with his ability to guard several positions of immense value to the Clippers on that side of the ball. This season, with another half step gone, Nico’s capability to defend quicker players diminished, and his rotations were also a bit less crisp. Nico was still a positive on defense, with his size, length, and incredible basketball know-how helping him contribute in various ways, but the impact was less noticeable.
Nico’s slippage culminated in him falling out of the rotation towards the end of the season when push came to shove. Kobe Sanders ended up being more trusted by the coaching staff when the Clippers absolutely needed to win games, with Nico logging two DNP-CDs down the stretch and playing less than six minutes in four other games. While the Clippers flagged down the end of the season, not many fans criticized the move away from Nico and towards the younger guys. It was certainly not a bad or disappointing season from Nico, but it was a step in the wrong direction as he entered his late 30s.
Future with Clippers
Nico is under contract next season for $5.8M, meaning the most likely outcome is that he is on the Clippers again in 2027. However, there is at least a possibility that Nico retires – this past season was the worst first full campaign of his career, and at his age he might be ready to hang up the laces. I’m sure the Clippers would like to have him back as a locker room presence and leader; he’s absolutely beloved around the organization. However, even if Nico does come back to the Clippers next year, it’s probably time to shift him out of the rotation entirely. Because of Nico’s extraordinary basketball knowledge and smarts he would likely work his way into playing time at some point, but the Clippers should not rely on him to play a major role as he heads into his 19th season. Whatever he decides, he’s a Clippers legend.
