Yakuba Ouattara happy with the title but sad about the end of an era in Paris: « It breaks my heart that it ends tonight »

After winning the French championship in 2023 and 2024 with Monaco, Yakuba Ouattara (1.90m, 33 years old) tasted championship glory again a year later. But this time with Paris, and against his former teammates. A driving force for the Parisian team throughout the season, the French international expressed his joy mixed with some melancholy, after a breathtaking Game 5 won against Roca Team (99-93) in a packed Adidas Arena.

« They are exceptional guys »

Like his team, Yakuba Ouattara gave it his all. While euphoria was evident after the final whistle, the wing summarized the end of this Parisian adventure with touching words. « The hardest part was winning the title. It was really great, but also sad, because it marks the end of the adventure with this team. They are exceptional guys. »

Recruited to bring his experience and defensive impact, the former Monaco player managed to play a leadership role, particularly behind the scenes, especially before this finale. « Clearly, I’m not someone who talks much normally. But I knew Monaco almost by heart. I tried to share my experience, tell the team what we would face in terms of physical impact, the opposing players, what they like, what they don’t like. »

😍 | @ParisBasketball and Yakuba Ouattara start very strong! 🦬💥

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« This game was a reflection of Paris »

Paris didn’t have an easy path in this final. Down by 8 points at the start of the fourth quarter, Tiago Splitter’s players had to dig deep. A resilience that Ouattara highlights: « We had a little scare. But this game was really a reflection of Paris. A team that fights until the end, even in tough moments. »

An uncertain but promising future

As the season ends with a historic title, the future of both the club and some players remains unclear. « For now we won the title tonight, we’ll enjoy it. What will happen next season? We’ll see. I don’t know who will be the coach, who will be the players. »

But what’s certain is that Paris Basketball has reached a new level. « It’s exceptional, but it’s a good sign for the future. It’s a club that wants to evolve, it only predicts good things for the future. »

Interview by Lilian Bordron at the Adidas Arena