Nicolas Batum in the NBA Draft

Name: Nicolas Batum
Date of Birth: December 14, 1988
Height: 6’8’’
Weight: 210 pounds
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Hometown: Pont l’Évêque
International Team: Le Mans

Nicolas Batum is one of the most talented basketball prospects in Europe, standing 6'8'' tall and weighing in at 210 pounds. An athletic swingman, he is expected to be one of the first names called in this year's NBA Draft. Possessing a greater than average wingspan to go with his impressive vertical leap, Nicolas Batum has all the physical tools necessary to become a productive NBA player.

He has a strong mid-range jumpshot and is confident shooting off the dribble. Batum is also dangerous when catching the ball at the perimeter as he is capable of beating defenders off the dribble with his quick first step. Nicolas has unusually good composure for a player so young, rarely taking poor shots or otherwise forcing the issue. Despite being a competent scorer, he does not neglect his teammates, accumulating a decent number of assists on accurate passes both in transition and in half-court sets. His height is an advantage to this end as he is able to see over the smaller players usually sent to cover him on the perimeter.

It is difficult to judge how effective Nicolas Batum is as a defender since he has to this point only faced opponents far shorter and less athletic than he is. Nonetheless, his high projections in the NBA Draft are in part due to his potential to become an excellent defender. While there are many examples of players who fail to use their talents, his length, lateral speed and quick hands mean that he has all the tools necessary to become an outstanding defender even against the NBA players he'll have to face in the future.

So, what does Nicolas Batum need to improve to become a top-flight basketball player? The most common criticism is that Batum lacks the muscle to compete in the NBA, with most scouts agreeing that he needs to add fifteen or twenty pounds to match up with the league's elite swingmen. Without this added bulk, Nicolas is likely to be bullied by more muscular opponents, and indeed in his appearances against American players of his age he has been physically overmatched by other NBA Draft prospects. His thin frame means that he is thrown off balance by contact in the paint, and as a consequence he often settles for jumpshots instead of taking the ball to the basket.

Others note that Nicolas Batum lacks confidence using his left hand, often taking awkward shots with his right as a result. He is also uncomfortable dribbling with his left, and is thus prone to turnovers as he is stripped on his drives to the basket. While his length and vertical jump mean that he is able to jump over opponents for rebounds, he is likely to be muscled out of position before he even has a chance to compete for the board in the NBA.

Regardless of such deficiencies in his game, you should expect good things of Nicolas Batum in the NBA.