Nicolas Batum’s NBA run is over, and as the former Philadelphia 76ers forward walks away at 37, one thought still hangs around his career: he wishes he had gotten more time next to Tyrese Maxey.
Batum announced this week that he was done after wrapping up his second stint with the Los Angeles Clippers. The French forward’s farewell also brought back a regret he had already put into words earlier this year.
In a March 2026 episode of The Young Man and the Three, Batum said his only regret was not playing with Maxey longer, and while he was younger.
Batum also explained that Maxey is his son’s favorite player, which clearly left an impression on him.
That kind of reaction tracks with how Maxey has landed on veteran teammates. James Harden has been complimentary when asked about the two-time All-Star, and Kyle Lowry was even more direct during his own time with the 76ers, saying he did not want to retire from the game in 2025 because he wanted another chance to play for a team Maxey was starting to lead as he grew into a star and a leader for the franchise.
The truth, though, is that Batum and Maxey were never really on the same clock. Batum entered the league in 2008 at age 20. By the time Maxey arrived out of the University of Kentucky as a freshman, Batum was 32 and heading into his 13th season.
Batum was still useful at that stage, but the numbers had already started to slide from his peak years in Portland and Charlotte. Over seven seasons with the Blazers, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. In five years with the Hornets, he put up 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
Before the move to Philadelphia, Batum spent two seasons with the Clippers and averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He then landed with the 76ers in the deal that sent James Harden and PJ Tucker to LA.
His 57-game stretch in Philadelphia may not be the first thing people remember about that season, but Batum was effective in his role. He shot 39.9% from three, averaged 5.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, and, as the numbers suggest, gave the Sixers steady playmaking from the wing.
The 76ers did have interest in keeping him for the back end of his career, but Batum headed back to Los Angeles anyway. He returned to the Clippers for his final two years, and the league never got those extra seasons of a Maxey-Batum pairing.
In Other News...
76ers May Have A Quiet Trade Option For A Real Shooting Need
The 76ers do not have to make their next roster move a splashy one to address a real issue. Philadelphias need for more reliable three-point shooting remains plain, and one name that fits the mold is Vit Krejci, a sharpshooter now with the Portland Trail Blazers who could be available without requiring much in return. For a team trying to find cleaner spacing around its core, that kind of low-cost swing can matter.
Krejcis appeal is rooted in the kind of role the 76ers could use right now. He has shown a career ability to hit from deep, but his place in Portland has shrunk enough to make him a plausible trade target rather than a centerpiece. If Philadelphia is looking for a way to add shooting without draining its assets, this is the sort of quietly practical option worth keeping on the radar. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Love To Philly Still Depends On One Sixers Decision
Kevin Love has emerged as a familiar name in the 76ers offseason chatter, with reports indicating there has already been contact between his camp and Philadelphia. The fit is easy to understand on paper: a veteran forward with experience, savvy and a reputation for helping steady a rotation, at a time when the Sixers are trying to manage the long game around their roster and cap situation.
Philadelphias interest, though, appears tied to one major organizational choice, because the teams financial constraints could push any move deeper into the season rather than right away. Love is also weighing other options, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz among the teams in the mix, so the Sixers may need to decide how much patience they have if they want to stay in position for a late-season addition. [Read more 🡒]
Labaron Philon Jr. Already Faces A Big 76ers Role Test
Labaron Philon Jr. is already stepping into a situation that will ask a lot from him in Philadelphia. The 76ers are looking at him as a secondary scorer and a floor spacer, which means the early conversation is less about what he can do with the ball and more about how well he can fit alongside the players already in place.
Training camp should give Philon his first real chance to show that he can handle those duties consistently. For a player trying to carve out minutes on a roster with established scorers, the ability to stay effective off the ball may matter just as much as any flashes he shows with it. [Read more 🡒]