Nic Batum has been Mr. Everything so far for the Hornets

Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker talks all the time about how Nic Batum and Jeremy Lin make his job easier.

So in the fourth quarter of what became a 98-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, Batum asked Walker to return the favor.

Batum had all but carried the Hornets for three quarters, flirting with his second triple-double of the season. Ultimately he finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. All those numbers drew the Grizzlies’ attention to the point Batum couldn’t operate effectively.

“They were so focused on me in those last eight minutes I went to him and said, ‘Now you have to take over. I can’t do it; they’re way too focused on me,’ “ Batum recalled.

“It’s his time to take over the game and he did it perfectly.”

Walker scored 11 consecutive points in the fourth quarter including a huge 3-pointer, one of 14 3s the Hornets made Saturday.

Walker is capable of such feats so long as he isn’t worn down the way he was the previous two seasons. A major motivation in this roster makeover was finding Walker some help so that he doesn’t have to be the first playmaker and first scoring option every night.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford went to Batum immediately after the June trade that brought him here from the Portland Trail Blazers and described what he wanted. That was basically everything: They would make him a point forward in the style of Hedo Turkoglu when Turkoglu played for the Orlando Magic and Clifford was an assistant coach there.

That was huge responsibility for Batum compared to the complementary role he played in Portland alongside stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. But general manager Rich Cho and assistant GM Chad Buchanan both knew Batum’s game intimately from their time in the Trail Blazers’ front office.

“That’s what this team needed; more playmakers who could handle the ball,” said Batum, who had his eighth game this season scoring 20 or more points.

I asked Batum Saturday if he’s lived up to the huge responsibility Clifford gave him. Batum said it’s not for him to make that assessment, but rather for coaches and media to decide.

So I’ll say it: For the first time in several seasons the Hornets have a legitimate All-Star candidate. Batum has been that good, that versatile, that impactful.

Clifford thinks Batum isn’t the only Hornet in a 16-13 start who deserves that consideration.

“I think Kemba does, too,” Clifford said when asked if Batum is All-Star worthy. “It’s pretty early, but I think both of those guys have to be (considered) at their positions. I haven’t looked at the other guys, but I think they’ve both played All-Star caliber basketball.

This was the first game back for center Al Jefferson, who missed 11 games with a calf strain and a five-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. Jefferson struggled, making one of his eight shots before fouling out.

His mood brightened when he was asked about the impact Batum has had on this team.

“Last three or four years he was with All-Star players (in Portland) so he kind of stayed in his lane. Coming here he knew we needed him to play a big-time role, particularly on offense, and he’s done that,” Jefferson said.

“Two years ago in the playoffs they’d double-team me and blitz Kemba every possession because we didn’t have anybody else to make plays. Now we have those guys.”

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Nic Batum has been Mr. Everything so far for the Hornets."