Hornets’ Batum won’t let big contract affect how he plays

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nicolas Batum said he isn't planning to alter how he plays the game after signing a five-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets. And that's just fine with coach Steve Clifford. Clifford said Batum doesn't need to put additional pressure on himself to score just because he's now the highest-paid player in Hornets history. He told him to play how he plays.

"You don't change the nature of how you play. I think guys get messed up with that," Clifford said. "... I don't think you try to reinvent yourself because the money changed. We gave him the money because he played so well. In my opinion he was an All-Star-caliber player last season when healthy."

Batum was acquired in a trade with Portland before last season and turned out to be a gem for Charlotte, which won 48 games and tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Batum averaged a career-high 14.9 points and 5.6 assists while becoming one of the team's top three go-to options.

Batum said he's learned from experience that it's not worth putting pressure on himself just because he signed a big contract.

He did in that 2012 after inking a four-year, $46 million deal to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers. While he still played well, he said it was pointless.

"I was a young guy at the time and I didn't know what to expect," Batum said. "Now I know. I know what I have to go through right now. I know what the views of the media and the public will be. I know that, and I'm good with it."

For Batum, pressure no longer enters the equation because the Hornets trust him and believe in him. "It's more relief than pressure," Batum said. The Hornets made re-signing him their No. 1 priority, offering the Frenchman a huge deal about an hour into the free-agency signing period. Batum also received several offers from other teams shortly after the deadline, which he called flattering.

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound Batum enters the season as Charlotte's best all-around player and a favorite among teammates.