'Bring him back': 51 reasons to re-sign Batemon

‘Bring back James Batemon’. That’s the message from Derek Rucker and Damon Lowery to the Brisbane Bullets’ powerbrokers.

Earlier this month, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reported club and player had chosen to mutually part ways, with ‘mutual interest in bringing him back’.

“This effectively gives Batemon an opportunity to go and gauge his interest elsewhere ... and it gives the Bullets an opportunity to be basically a clean slate,” Uluc said at the time.

But just a fortnight later, two former stars believe it’s time for new coach Stu Lash and the Bullets to make a big call.

“It’s confusing, right? Because all season they talked about his great character and how good he was around the club. But then they weren’t really willing to extend that final year, and they said it was mutual,” Rucker said.

“But I’m pretty sure James Batemon probably wanted to come back and stay under contract.

“I’ve got to bring him back. I thought he was a really good player once he figured out what was going on.

“To find someone who can shoot the ball as accurately and with the volume that he did - from what we saw in his 15 games or so with Brisbane - he’s worthy. He earned himself another opportunity.”

Batemon averaged 15.5 points a game in 16 appearances across NBL25, before his progress was halted with a season-ending hamstring injury.

He boasted an incredible 51-point haul against Perth in November.

“James Batemon - if his hamstring didn’t betray him toward the back end of the season - was already playing himself into some rock-solid status,” Lowery continued.

“I’m not going to say All-NBL-type because those teams are already pretty much picked, but he’s proven.

“The dude dropped 50. I mean, come on now. Ain’t many guys, outside of yourself (Rucker), know what that’s like.”

The pair said stability in the roster was key for the Bullets, particularly with a new coach now on board.

“You missed out on Dellavedova. I hope that didn’t cause them to make irrational decisions, because once you miss out on Delly, that would have been the impetus for me to lock Batemon away,” Rucker said.

“Just to know I’ve got some stability there in the backcourt … something I know.”

“Now, I know you’re not tight with Stu Lash, but I don’t want the circus to roll back into town. You saw what it was like a few years ago,” Lowery continued.

“I’m starting to get some circus vibes again. You lose Josh Bannan, Isaac White’s going back home to Adelaide … you’ve got to get some stability.”

“If you’ve got a guy that’s already proven in the league, like James Batemon, I don’t mess around. I bring him back immediately.”