Nic Batum Slowly Working Towards Big Role With Sixers

Veteran forward continues to impress with his new team

Despite being the last of the new additions to join the Philadelphia 76ers, Nic Batum has had the biggest impact. He's still getting acclimated to his new team, but that has not stopped him from providing a lift on the floor. 

In his debut on Monday, Batum knocked down three threes en route to scoring 11 points. He played big minutes against the Boston Celtics Wednesday, where he posted five points and four rebounds off the bench. 

Based on his playing time, head coach Nick Nurse likes what Batum brings on both ends. When things got tight down the stretch against the Celtics, he had the veteran in the closing lineup with the starters over Kelly Oubre. After the game, Nurse touched on why he went with Batum in the final minutes. 

"I just really liked what Batum was giving us from a communication and defensive standpoint," Nurse said. "He was really making the right switches and covering up really good and things like that." 

Following the James Harden trade, Oubre saw himself promoted from the second unit to the starting lineup. That said, Nurse mentioned that it was a short-term move while the team adjusts to the new players coming in. 

Oubre continues to play well, and Nurse has kept him with the starters. However, Batum is a name to watch to possibly enter that lineup moving forward. When praising the Sixers' second unit, Nurse cited that Batum is still a starter-level player in this league. "Batum obviously is kind of starter," he said. "Big minute off the bench type guy." 

As a high-IQ veteran, Batum has a strong case to potentially become a starter down the road. He fits well alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as someone who can move around the floor and effectively knock down open three-pointers. Oubre is capable of doing the same but might be best suited bringing a scoring punch to the defensive-minded second unit. 

Batum is still learning the ropes in the Sixers' system, but there is no doubt he's on the path to being a big constant in the rotation moving forward.