Basketball
Batum retires after 18 seasons; Duren-Pistons talks stall; Veesaar's ACL ends Hawks season
Nicolas Batum announced his retirement after 18 NBA seasons, citing a desire to return home and focus on family, as Jalen Duren's contract talks with Detroit hit a wall and Henri Veesaar's torn ACL ruled out the Hawks' rookie centre for 2026-27.
Nicolas Batum brought his 18-season NBA career to a close on September 21, per ESPN, saying he wants to return home and focus on his family.
Per ESPN, the Detroit Pistons and centre Jalen Duren remain at an impasse, with the team offering $200 million over five years while Duren feels disrespected in the talks.
Per ESPN, an ACL tear suffered by Hawks rookie Henri Veesaar during a September 15 workout will sideline him for the entire 2026-27 season; surgery is expected in October.