And if with Axel Toupane, this is where everything really began for Paris Basketball? Very clever who could answer this question after only one match, you would say. It is still too early. But the NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks is far from innocent in the 6th success of Jean-Christophe Prat‘s men.
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Tested positive for Covid-19 and therefore absent last weekend during the slap in Limoges, the bronze medalist of the 2019 World Cup began his Parisian adventure in the best possible way. With a nice victory against the Metropolitans 92 (83-78) and an equally attractive individual performance! “We are super happy, it was a good time. We had a big collective match against the first in the championship. Honestly, what more could you ask for? “Summarizes the 29-year-old winger soberly.
“The type of player who will allow Paris to stabilize its level of performance”
Under the eyes of his father Jean-Aimé Toupane and his relatives, the Mulhousien finished top scorer for his new team, with 16 points at 6/10 on shots, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for 19 evaluation in 28 minutes. With such ease. From there to surprise his own coach? ” Is that so ? I had not even seen that he had finished as the team’s top scorer, admits Jean-Christophe Prat. I’m so disconnected from the stats in the match… It’s not only thanks to Axel that we won, but it’s true that he brings us verticality and this ability to defend hard. »
For his first with Paris Basketball, Axel Toupane was there
(photo : Lilian Bordron)
Solid defensively, the Parisians were able to find a lot of energy offensively to shake up Boulogne-Levallois, blunted by his trip to Lietkabelis (Lithuania) on Tuesday. The promoted Parisian also relied on a well-oiled offensive game, with a Kyle Allman as conductor. Almost astounding when the body language sometimes betrayed the Metropolitans 92. Unlike the proteges of Carpentier who were in control over almost the entire meeting. Again, Axel Toupane is never far away…
“It is necessarily a reinforcement of high quality for Paris, summarizes Vincent Collet, the coach of the Mets 92, also coach of the Blues. He is the type of player who will allow Paris to stabilize his level of performance. He was very good, he strengthens this team more than significantly. »
“When you are a coach, you have little crushes and Axel is one of them”
A timely reinforcement for Paris Basket. Able to play on positions 3 and 4, the Alsatian had been in the sights of coach Prat for a while now. Having reached maturity and without an interesting NBA offer, Axel Toupane let himself be seduced by the capital club, with whom he signed up until June 2024.
“When you are a coach, you have little crushes and Axel is one of them, explains Jean-Christophe Prat who had tried to bring him to Asvel in the early 2000s, when he was Philippe Hervé’s assistant. I have always followed Axel’s career and one thing led to another, we forged a real relationship. In September, we had already seen each other and he told me: “if there is a club in Europe that can bring me back now, it’s Paris Basketball.” It didn’t mean he was going to basically come back this year but it was already in his head. And my crush was even stronger but we’re not going to get caught either! (laughs). What could be more normal in Paris, the city of lovers?
With Lilian Bordon (in Paris),
Axel Toupane told Jean-Christophe Prat in September: “If there is a club that can bring me back to Europe now, it’s Paris Basketball.” From dream to reality for David Kahn’s club…
(photo : Lilian Bordron)
