CHARLOTTE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Nicolas Batum has taken center stage on numerous occasions this season with the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA team acquired the former Portland Trail Blazer last summer and he has put in one outstanding performance after another with the Eastern Conference outfit.

Last time out, Batum had a triple-double to lead the Hornets past the Philadelphia 76ers. He dominated, yet made it look easy.

Batum's play is one reason why Charlotte is abuzz about the playoff possibilities. The Frenchman is a complete player, averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He's making a difference on offense and defense.

The team is sixth in the Eastern Conference at 43-31, the same record as the fourth-place Boston Celtics and fifth-place Miami Heat. They have eight games remaining and look good bets to clinch a post-season berth in the coming days.

One of the French national team's linchpins, Batum spoke to FIBA.com of his excitement about how the year has unfolded in Charlotte but also expressed caution about the games that remain, including those in the postseason.

We need to stay humble and keep working as hard as we have been so far this season. Having a great regular season doesn’t always mean you're going to have a long play-off run. That’s why we need to take it step by step. We need to keep improving before the start of the playoffs and stay focused. - Batum

Batum, of course, is not just an NBA star. He is international basketball phenom who has won medals with France and been selected to All-Star Fives.

In 2014, when France showed up at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain with some big-name players missing, Batum was sensational. He led his country to a third-place finish.

Last summer at EuroBasket 2015, the 2.03m forward also hit plenty of big shots and made outstanding defensive plays as France reached the podium. It's an annual occurence with Batum - he always does things that make French fans get on their feet.

This summer, it is hoped that he will play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila. The French will have to win the OQT that also includes the Philippines, New Zealand, Canada, Senegal and Turkey if they are to claim a spot at the Rio de Janeiro Games. There will also be OQTs in Belgrade and Turin.

"The three groups [OQTs], Manila, Turin and Belgrade, are very competitive and tough," Batum said. "There is no group of death, but the groups are very balanced. We are going to play against New Zealand, who beat us years ago [at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup]. The Philippines are going to be hard to beat at home. Then Canada, Turkey or Senegal are going to be really good teams. Canada seems to be among the favorites, but everyone is going to fight hard to reach the best competition ever, the Olympics."

Having taken part in the Olympics before, in London four years ago, Batum is keen to do it all again. The men's basketball tournament will run from 6-21 August in Rio de Janeiro.

It’s the most amazing experience for an athlete. Being part of the team that participated at the London Olympics was one of the best experiences of my career and in my life. I will never forget it. - Batum

Nicolas Batum (FRA) helped France clinch a spot in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila

France have yet to name their squad for Manila, and Batum will be a free agent this summer. As he needs to sort out his NBA future, his participation in the OQT is uncertain. The 27-year-old is likely to put pen to paper on a lucrative contract with the Hornets or another team, although it is not known if he will do so in time to play in the Philippines.

"Yes, I think about it (the contract), but I am not worried about it," Batum said. "I will take care of that at the end of the season. It will be the best time to talk about my new contract."

The national team players will gather at France's national institute of sport (INSEP) in Paris from 5-7 June to have their medicals and then start their first camp in Strasbourg (8-13 June). France will have four friendlies. They will take on Latvia, Serbia (twice) and Japan before the OQT, which will be from 5-10 July. If Batum did not sign a new deal in time and did not play at the OQT, he could still join France at the Olympics if they were to clinch a spot in Rio.

In the coming weeks, though, all of Batum's thoughts will be concentrated on Charlotte and helping the team do something special. One of the benefits to being with the North Carolina outfit is that he receives counsel on a frequent basis from team owner Michael Jordan.

"It's great," Batum said. "He spends a lot of time with us even if he is not very fond of being in front of the cameras or doing public appearances. He is always giving us advice; he speaks to us a lot. He is our number one fan and it's great to see him cheering for us, you know. Knowing who he is, the impact he had on the game and seeing him every day showing the same passion to the game, that's amazing. He gives us a lot of confidence and that's very important for us."

Batum dreams of having the kind of success that Jordan had, at least in terms of capturing titles. He captured six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and also won gold medals at the 1984 and 1992 Olympics with the USA. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2009 and into FIBA's Hall of Fame last year.

Batum and France have stuck together in good times and bad. It's been the same, he says, this season with Charlotte.

The group of players is very united. We stick together whenever the games are going well or not. We are writing a great page in the franchise’s history and we want to have one of the best seasons in Hornets history. - Batum

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