Nicolas Batum has been around the NBA since 2008. It has given him plenty of experience matching up against some of the league’s greatest scorers. Over the years, he’s faced countless stars, but one name still stands out above the rest.
In a recent appearance on The Young Man & The Three, Batum admitted that Carmelo Anthony, particularly during his Denver Nuggets days, was the toughest player he ever had to defend. The Nuggets were a fierce opponent during his time, and Denver’s 2006 clash with the New York Knicks is the evidence.
“Denver Melo was crazy. Like, at the beginning of my career, so I was young, was skinny, and my job, I was starting, but I had to guard the best opponent,” Batum said.
“And Denver Melo, I always say, like, he had everything. He was strong first, but post-up, drive, threes, pull-up, like, iso, jab, like, turnaround, volleyball, like, everything. I mean, I always say he’s the toughest guy I had to guard in my career,” he added.
Anthony’s time in Denver showcased why so many defenders shared Batum’s struggles. With a rare combination of athleticism, he became one of the NBA’s most unstoppable scorers. From 2003 to 2011, Anthony elevated the Nuggets back into playoff relevance and led the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2009.
Nicolas Batum Speaks Out Against Racism In Basketball
Recently, Dennis Schroder became a target of racism during Germany’s clash with Lithuania. Not long after, French guard Sylvain Francisco found himself in a similar situation. French legend Nicolas Batum did not stay silent. On X, the forward condemned the behavior of the fans and made it clear where he stood on the matter.
“Some of y’all are SICK even if you disagree with a BASKETBALL play, racism and hate are NEVER ACCEPTABLE at all. After Dennis Schroder earlier, now this… Major props to Sylvain, great game brother. Keep shining and making us proud,” Batum wrote.
Incidents like these show that, though basketball is celebrated as a global game, challenges still remain in ensuring respect for players on and off the court.
The post Clippers’ Nicolas Batum Names Ex-Nuggets Star As “The Toughest Player” He Ever Had To Guard originally published on Total Pro Sports.