In the spring of 2020, at the time of his contract with Aix-Maurienne ended, some had publicly mentioned the retirement of Karim Atamna (1.94 m) in order to justify his departure. A year later, here he is with a championship double – Pro B Leaders Cup under his arm. And with the will, this time, to perhaps retire from the professional world, as he blew out his 40th birthday this season. His decision has not yet been made but the clues are there. In the wake of the coronation in Nantes, the Algerian international said he thought he “had made the rounds” and that he would return to his family, who remained in Aix-les-Bains.
The temptation to leave by the front door, with two trophies on the clock, is surely strong as it would represent Karim Atamna’s professional career. Champion of France Espoirs Pro B in 2000 with the AMSB, the Ditch winger has participated in six climbs (!) During his 21 seasons in the circuit: one in NM1 (Liévin 2004), three in Pro B (Le Portel 2007, Reims 2010, Aix-Maurienne 2016) and two in Jeep ELITE (Antibes 2015, Fos-Provence 2021). Not necessarily surprising when you know his importance in a collective, he who has converted over the years into a formidable Swiss Army knife (16.6 points, 6 rebounds and 3.2 assists at the height of his career in 2009/10), capable of being still a precious glue-guy in recent months as during the Leaders Cup final against Quimper where he was of fundamental importance in the triumph of the BYers (7 rebounds and 3 assists decisive in 37 minutes) of his great friend, and ex-teammate (in 1998/99, in Aix-Maurienne), Rémi Giuitta.
“Beyond the numbers and playing time, Karim had a major role in our accession,” says his coach. “He immediately came to fill the absence of Lucas Hergott, with a different style and role. He immediately melted into the collective and that’s why I turned to him. He’s a player with an extraordinary mentality, who always puts the team first, who loves to support young players and help them progress. These are all qualities that make him a good team-mate and which are reflected in all the climbs he has known. He is a binding player, with a good basketball IQ, who brings accuracy, who does not pull the cover to him. These are increasingly rare moral qualities. Like Mamadou Dia, it was very important for us to be able to count on him. Finally, it is not surprising that he still has the capacity to evolve at this level at more than 40 years because he has an exceptional discipline and rigor of training. He is probably the player who spends the most time in the gym with a lot of individual work, maintenance of his body, even on days off. No wonder he was able to last and chain accessions. “
Even if he decides to stop, Atamna’s name may continue to resonate in the small world of French basketball. In addition to his son, Adam, who is working hard at the Pôle Espoirs de Voiron, Karim himself has never hidden his attraction to coaching or the management of a club, he who followed the training of sports director of the CDES of Limoges . “Not sure that I am making an appearance again in the professional world, on the ground in any case,” he concludes with a smile.
To reread: our big interview with Karim Atamna
His journey :
- 1998/00: Aix-Maurienne (Prospects Pro B)
- 2000/02: Cambrai (NM2)
- 2002/06: Liévin (NM2 and NM1)
- 2006/08: ESSM Le Portel (NM2 and NM1)
- 2008/10 : Reims (NM1)
- 2010/14: Fos-sur-Mer (Pro B)
- 2014/15 : Antibes (Pro B)
- 2015/20: Aix-Maurienne (NM1 and Pro B)
- 2020/21: Fos-sur-Mer (Pro B)
An end in apotheosis in Nantes last Friday, for Atamna and the other former Fos?
(photo : Theo Quintard)
