At the time I wrote this post, Minny hasn't submit their signer offer sheet and any sign and trade seems going in a good way for Nic Batum. It didn't stop Batman to take flight in a pre-olympics game whith France against Spain.

Dunk Nicolas Batum, France-Espagne, Paris- 15 juillet (via FranceBasketball)

He has beg France coach Vincent Collet to let him play in this (too!) rare international caliber game in Bercy, the biggest french arena for a basketball game. Some french news sites talk about some tears in the locker room after near a month away from the court !!! He won 4'58 of starting playing time. Enough to get this dunk done. But what a risk for a player waiting a 45 mil contrat and the insurance going with it !!!

"This 5 minutes worth every contracts in the world" said Batum at the haltime of the game.

Not the sure that Collet and Patrick Beesley, coach and general manager of Les Bleus thought the same thing. They were more than pale during the longuest 4'58 minutes of their career.

As a fan I like the idea that of love of the game worth more than anything for a player. As a French I don't understand how the french management can risk the JO, Batum future and the trustfull relationship between the french federation and more of the NBA franchises which let the players go for international tournament (Except the bulls and Noah who is the only professionnal athlete who can't take care of an sprain ankle in a month even for the Olympics : http://www.endlich-schmerzfrei.net/ )

Anyway, I know blazers fans than you like see the BAAAAATMAAAANNN !!!

On the road to London la série - E13 - Batman (via FranceBasketball)

Peace !

T.