Batum emphasized that Westbrook is an exceptional player and that his arrival at the Clippers is great news for the team. The French forward praised Westbrook’s skills and his ability to positively impact the game.

“When they asked me what you guys think of adding him (Westbrook), it’s pretty much what I’m envisioning, yes,” exclaimed the two-time Olympic silver medalist.

“When you talk about Westbrook, it feels like all the other players in the NBA are perfect, nobody else misses shots, and everybody averages 95% from three and 0.2 TPG. I think we focus way too much on the negative of that guy.” Batum added.

The Westbrook controversy

Russell Westbrook has been one of the most polarizing players in the NBA in recent years. His aggressive style of play and tendency to force shots have drawn criticism from some fans and pundits.

However, Westbrook has proven himself on multiple occasions and has achieved significant milestones throughout his career. His ability to rack up triple-doubles and his overall impact on the game are undeniable.

Batum’s support for Westbrook

Nicolas Batum has been a staunch defender of Westbrook since his arrival with the Clippers. The French forward has praised the talent and work ethic of the former Lakers player.

Batum has criticized the treatment Westbrook has received in the past, noting that he has been unfairly judged and that his contributions to the game have been undervalued.

The Warriors also have some nice pieces in Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and James Wiseman, plus there’s still a chance that Kelly Oubre Jr comes back next season. Then again, they need to add more depth and veterans around their stars.

So, even though that could be tricky given the limited cap space, Anthony Slater of The Athletic recently stated that there’s mutual interest between them and Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum.

NBA Rumors: Warriors Looking To Sign Nicolas Batum

“There is mutual interest between Batum and the Warriors, sources said. He’s currently in Tokyo, competing for France. But there is expected to be contact with his representation early in the free-agency process. Batum, sources said, understands how well he’d fit the Warriors’ system and, as a notable bonus, has an established relationship with new assistant Kenny Atkinson, who coached him last season with the Clippers,” reported Slater.

Warriors’ GM Bob Myers had already opened up about the possibility of bringing in more veterans. He knows that the money will be tight but that those players know that they can win a ring with that organization:

“The thing we hope we’ve accomplished in the last couple months (of the season), is proven to some of those kinds of (veterans), I think the Warriors can win,” Myers said. “They have to believe that. I hope we’ve showed that we’re close. But that’s what you get when you’re looking at a vet minimum or a vet taxpayer that’s maybe taking less money, is: Can I win with the Warriors?”

While far from his prime, Batum has been the Jack of all trades throughout his career in the league. His Swiss Army knife skill set can come pretty handily for Steve Kerr’s system, as well as his playoff experience.