There is a Frenchman in the NBA, and it’s Axel Toupane! At 28, his career was not a long quiet river with passages in Denver, New Orleans, then a return to Europe in big cars, before going through the G-League box to catch the eye of the NBA recruiters. Milwaukee gave him his chance and in a few hours, he will be on the biggest stage: an NBA final!
Axel, a few hours away from the start of the 2021 NBA Finals, how do you feel as we approach the most important series of the season?
Lots of excitement. It is a special moment for any player. Playing an NBA final is a dream. But we have to stay the course, take what to take and give everything to emerge victorious from this match. It’s a long season, quite hard and intense playoffs and to say that we are in one of the two best teams in the league is a great pleasure.
When you win Game 6 against the Hawks, there is no explosion of joy. We feel that everyone feels relieved and focused on the next game …
Yes, after that it’s a match where we had the lead and they came back. Against Atlanta but also against the Heat or the Nets, nothing was easy. We lost the first game against the Hawks with a big game from Trae Young. Then, they come back to 2-2, the injury of Giannis. So nothing was easy. But each time, we were able, as a team, to turn the tide in our direction. Now we have a series to go and win and a ring to go get. Nothing will be easy, but I think that we are ready and above all to let go.
“Here in the United States, you always have to be positive on the bench, not to show moods”
When Giannis Antetokounmpo injures his knee, does doubt set in in the group?
No doubt, but a little fear. Already, it’s never easy to see a player hurt himself. In addition, he is your best player and he has an important role. It was therefore necessary to show him support without panicking. This team has wanted to go to the Finals for a very long time, and has dreamed of winning a title for a very long time. So everyone wanted to raise their level of play to show that there were also great players in this team. Brook Lopez, Kris Middleton or Jrue Holiday have shown the way. Now, it’s not a very big injury for Giannis. We hope he will be able to play, because with us we are even stronger with him.
From a personal point of view, isn’t it very frustrating not to be in the field?
Frustrating no. After that, of course, at a certain level, you want to play, to help others other than by encouragement. We are all competitors. But, everyone has their role and importance. Here in the United States, you always have to be positive on the bench, not to show moods. Anyway, all the accumulated experience will serve me for the future, that’s for sure. Me, every day I get up and I work with a lot of desire and that is the most important. I always wanted to be a basketball player to experience these moments. It is a real pride and a long road sometimes strewn with pitfalls but which deserved to be lived.
“The KD series is crazy and we will win in an incredible Game 7. It’s really fascinating to experience it up close ”
To come back to the Suns, is it a little surprise to see them in the NBA Finals?
Surprise? I do not know. It’s still a team that finished with the second best record in the league and it was unbeaten in the bubble. So yes, it’s a surprise because maybe we expected the Lakers or Clippers, but the Suns are formidable. They deserve to be there and nothing will be easy for us. I hope it will be a good final.
Before this final begins, what are your fondest memories of this adventure?
The first game against the Heat was crazy. We felt a certain pressure. Very physical. Especially since we were coming out of the end of the regular season where we had played small teams. There, directly playoffs against the Heat known to be a physical team. They were the ones who beat us last year. We wanted our revenge and the fans too.
I also keep in mind the series against the Nets. Such intense matches, against big players. The KD series is crazy and we will win in an incredible Game 7. It’s really exciting to experience it up close.
We hope that the next memory will be the NBA ring …
That’s it, we hope and believe in it!
Interview by phone
