An NBA champion in Paris. By landing at Paris Basketball, Axel Toupane gives new impetus to his career. After his title with the Milwaukee Bucks last summer, the winger failed to join another franchise in the big North American league, despite strong performances in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the development team of the other Warriors, those of Golden State.
But the former Strasbourg player assures him, his arrival in the young and ambitious club of the capital is part of the long term. It’s both a life project — a welcome return to basics — and a sporting project to help the club grow. And the adventure started well with a victory in his first match in the derby against Boulogne-Levallois.
Konbini Sports | Not too hard to leave California and its sun to return to Paris, in the cold?
Axel Toupane | That’s what I wanted. With good or bad weather, Paris always has the same effect on me. I fell in love with this city, its energy, its architecture… I can put on my headphones and walk there for hours. That’s really what I like.
Do you have an address to advise us?
The Malro. It’s my favorite restaurant in Paris, in the 3rd arrondissement, which offers revisited Mediterranean cuisine. I won’t say I’m there every day, but at least several times a week. They play really good music, which is quite rare, plus it’s black owner [dont les propriétaires sont des personnes noires, ndlr]. Everyone I took there loved it.
During all these years spent away from France, what did you miss the most?
See my friends. FaceTime is cool, but here, for example, I go to One Ball [terrain d’entraînement du Paris Basketball où nous avons réalisé l’interview, ndlr], I see faces that I know, I speak French… These are small things, but it counts a lot. This is also what I came back for. Before, I was in obstacle course mode, alone against everyone. I showed that I could do it, but I thought that evolving in a positive and familiar environment could do me a lot of good. And maybe it will reveal unsuspected abilities in me.
“I needed some answers in the United States”
Conversely, what do you miss across the Atlantic?
I didn’t go there every day, but if there was a little Chick-fil-A in Paris it would be nice. Otherwise, nothing in particular.
Let’s get to the sportsman now. Last Saturday you played your first game in your new colours, against Boulogne-Levallois. In terms of sensations and expectations, how were you?
I was very happy and excited at the idea of playing this first game. Plus, it’s funny, because I didn’t have very good memories of the Halle Carpentier. When we won the Coupe de France with Strasbourg, we played a match against Boulogne there, I didn’t really like the room. But now, the way she is arranged, it has nothing to do and it’s more pleasant. Beyond that, it was a good collective game. We beat the first, in a derby, it’s great.
When did you decide to come back to France and Paris?
It’s been clear in my head for a while now: if there was no NBA, my destination would be Paris. Since my time in Malaga, my worst experience in Europe, I really understood what I wanted and what I didn’t want. I started thinking about a comeback this summer. I think I still needed some answers in the United States, which I got in my first two months in the G League. After that, the choice was easy to make, it was the one that made the most sense to me. Just run and go.
“If we win games, I would have come for something”
How important was the life project in your decision-making?
What made my decision easier was the combination of the super attractive, ambitious sporting challenge, with enormous potential, and Paris, the city where my friends and relatives are and where I have my habits.
How was the adaptation with your teammates?
I already knew the French players, and the American players are cool, so it was easy to fit in. The team is living well and has been living well since the start of the season. She had a little trouble at first, but with work it will sort itself out.
Have you set personal goals?
Just win, impact and perform. I’m a fairly versatile player, so there’s no point in saying that I’m going to put so many points, so many this, so many that. If we win games, I would have come for something.
“Paris was the perfect place”
Is coming back to Paris a long-term project or is it a step in your career?
Since I was little, my goal was to play in the NBA. No one thought I would make it, but I did. Once there, my goal was to make a place for myself and have a real role to play. That’s why I came back to Europe and the Euroleague. I couldn’t wait forever, especially for a hard worker like me. I couldn’t stay in a situation that didn’t depend on me. The career of an athlete is not long, I was looking to find the best place to show everything I can do. And as I said before, Paris was the perfect place.
You had a fairly exceptional year 2021 in terms of emotions, winning an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks. What can we wish you for the year 2022?
The same emotions. But above all win matches, have fun and continue to progress. And health above all else.
