Nicolas Batum, Mason Plumlee, Noah Vonleh

Charlotte Hornets' Nicolas Batum (5) dunks past Portland Trail Blazers' Mason Plumlee (24) and Noah Vonleh (21) in the second half of a game in Charlotte in November.

(Chuck Burton/Associated Press)

Nicolas Batum landed at PDX late Wednesday night, boarded the Charlotte Hornets' team bus, and cruised along the interstate bound for what felt like a familiar destination.

Then he encountered an unexpected twist.

Instead of pressing on toward Lake Oswego, where Batum used to live, the bus took an unfamiliar turn, exiting the freeway and driving toward Portland. Batum could only shake his head.

After spending seven years with the Trail Blazers, Batum was making his first trek to Portland as a visitor, and the journey to the team hotel was merely the first odd experience.

"Normally, I keep driving to Lake Oswego," he said. "Now I turn right to go downtown. We stay at The Nines (hotel) -- I used to go there just to get dinner after games. Now (I'm) saying there to sleep. When you spend seven years in one city, just to come there for one day, that's pretty weird."

And it will only get weirder Friday night, when the Blazers host Batum and the Hornets at 7 p.m. at the Moda Center.

It won't be Batum's first outing against the team he played for during the first seven seasons of his NBA career. That came in November, when he stuck it to his old pals, recording 33 points, six assists and five rebounds during a 106-94 Hornets victory. That night, he offered detailed thoughts about the trade that shipped him away from the only franchise he knew, saying he felt like he had been given a "new beginning" in Charlotte, revealing he had been informed of the move in a "25-second call" and speaking longingly of the "Keep Portland Weird" vibe of his former city.

At the time, LaMarcus Aldridge had just made his Portland homecoming and was serenaded with a chorus of boos. Batum, noting that he didn't chose to leave, said then that he hoped he would not face a similarly cold reunion. He echoed those feelings Thursday afternoon following the Hornets' practice at the University of Portland.

"Like I say, I got traded," Batum said. "I didn't (leave) by myself. I didn't (leave) Rip City. So I hope I won't get booed."

Batum has fit in well with his new team. He made a perfect first impression, bringing a dose of playmaking, facilitating and scoring the Hornets were desperate to add. Midway through his first season in Charlotte, he's logged a triple-double against Miami, recorded seven double-doubles and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Batum, who is averaging 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, is one of six players averaging at least 14 points, six assists and five rebounds this season.

But a nagging sprained toe has stalled his momentum throughout January, forcing him to miss eight games and average just 9.5 points during the month. He returned from a four-game absence Wednesday night against Utah.

The Blazers aren't precisely sure what version of Batum they'll see Friday, but they do have one desire.

"I hope he doesn't play as well as he did last game," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said, smiling.

While he may be a bit uncertain how Portland fans will greet him during his return, he can rest assured knowing former teammates will greet him fondly. They spoke glowingly about him Thursday, praising his leadership, professionalism and attitude.

"He was a really good teammate," Damian Lillard said. "I always remember my rookie year and my second year, when it would get to five minutes or less in the game, he would always come tap me on my back and be like, 'Dame, it's your time. Take over the game.' Just being so young and having somebody who's been a part of this team come to me and have that much confidence, that always meant a lot to me. He was always that type of person. He was unselfish. Just a good dude to play with."

CJ McCollum said Batum didn't speak up much, but when he did "you listened."

"He was very helpful to me as an individual," McCollum said. "He just had a really good personality, was a good guy, good demeanor, just kind of drifted through life. He was real cool. Just always being encouraging, telling me to keep playing, to stick with it when I wasn't playing. Telling me that when I do get a chance, I'm going to be successful."

Batum said he expects a few nerves when he returns to the Moda Center as a visitor. And while it will be a little odd, he's excited to rekindle years of fond memories.

"I spent seven years (in Portland), I tried to give them all I got for seven years," he said. "I've got some great memories there. It's going to be weird to be in another locker room, another bench, the other side. I just want to win tomorrow. I'm sorry Rip City, I'm going to do my best to win this game."

--Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman