PARIS — The French Basketball Federation moved to honour Nicolas Batum on Wednesday, one day after the 18-year NBA veteran and long-serving national team captain confirmed his retirement from professional basketball. Batum leaves as one of France's most decorated international players.

The 37-year-old announced the end of his career after playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. He was a fixture of Les Bleus for more than a decade, helping France to Olympic silver medals in Tokyo and Paris.

Former teammates including Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier praised Batum's leadership on and off the court. His willingness to accept a reduced scoring role in favour of defence and playmaking made him a cornerstone of France's rise on the international stage.

Batum's departure marks a generational shift for French basketball as younger talent led by Victor Wembanyama takes over. His retirement closes an era for a team that reached consecutive Olympic finals against the United States.

In his announcement, Batum said representing France remained the proudest achievement of his career, thanking supporters who followed the national team through its most successful decade.