Medically cleared to practice, Trail Blazers Nicolas Batum tests right shoulder for first time since surgery

BOSTON — After finally gaining medical clearance to practice, Nicolas Batum went through his first full workout of the regular season Thursday afternoon in Boston.

And while Batum left the Blazers' practice at Emerson College “encouraged” by his progress, it did not come without incident.

The Blazers did not have enough able bodies to run through five-on-five drills, so Batum went through two-on-two work with Steve Blake, Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph. After at least 20 minutes, Batum halted play and walked away from the workout favoring his right shoulder and grimacing.

Coach Nate McMillan, who watched the last few minutes of the workout from the front row of the gymnasium's bleachers, asked what happened and Batum said he simply had encountered into too many screens.

“Too much,” Batum told McMillan. “Screen after screen after screen.”

Batum downplayed the situation afterward, saying doctors told him he would experience soreness and discomfort went he returned to what McMillan calls “live” contact practices. Batum had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Oct. 30 and although he has been doing shooting and conditioning work with assistant coach Monty Williams for weeks, this was his first “contact” practice.

“Good, I feel good,” Batum said, grinning, after his workout. “That’s the first time I’ve played two-on-two in three months. I just received a screen on my shoulder and it hurt a little bit. But no big deal.”

Batum said he still hopes to return when the Blazers host the New Orleans Hornets Monday at the Rose Garden. But he does not expect these cumbersome moments to end for a while.

“(Doctors) said to expect that the first five games it will hurt a little but,” Batum said. “But I’m still coming back. No big deal. I played seven months with an (injured) shoulder, so it’s OK.”

Batum teamed with Cunningham during the two-on-two scrimmage and alternated guarding Blake and Pendergraph on defense. Batum mixed several jump shots with a two-handed baseline dunk on offense.

The play was physical at times, particularly when Batum found himself defending Pendergraph on the block. During one play, Pendergraph gathered a pass on the block and bulled directly into Batum, knocking him to the ground. Batum skidded three-to-five feet on the court, Pendergraph dunked emphatically and McMillan screamed, “Oooooooohhh” from the front row.

Batum picked himself up and did not reveal any pain. That came a few minutes later when he yanked himself from the workout and, eventually, had a bag of ice wrapped around his shoulder.

While Batum has insisted for weeks the he will return on Monday, McMillan said the decision ultimately will be a group call between team trainer Jay Jensen, general manager Kevin Pritchard, Batum and McMillan.