The news had the effect of a small blast for lovers of PB 86. Wednesday evening, Luka Rupnik (32 years on May 20) announced on her social networks that he would put an end to his career after the season. A carefully considered decision leaving a big void for fans of the Poitevin club. Because, by his talent, his sense of pass, his long distance shots, his love of communicative basketball and his charisma, the Slovenian quickly conquered hearts. In less than two years, Luka Rupnik has established himself as an essential figure in PB 86. A club where he ended a busy career, hoping to make the pleasure in play-off last…
Why did you decided to end your career after the season?
“I think the loop is complete, that I led my basketball dream to its maximum. I enjoyed every moment and I think I’m still living a great season. It seems to me the right time to retire as a player. It is also a little difficult for me to be far from my family, I want to go back to Slovenia to be with her. »»
Your passion for game is always very present. Has this decision coming from the heart been difficult to make?
“Yes, surely. It is a really very important decision since since the age of five, everything I do has been turned to basketball. Even today, I like competition, I love this game, play in front of the supporters but many people have sacrificed a lot for me, now it is time that I sacrifice things for them. It’s like that. »»
When shooting this important page, what are your best memories of your long career having taken you from Slovenia to Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Turkey and France, not to mention the national team?
“It is quite difficult but certainly the Olympic Games (in 2021, in Tokyo, Slovenia lost a point against France in the semi-final 90-89) with the national team, but also to have won championships in Slovenia and Belgium. But the best things are the relationships, the friends I have been able to do in basketball, whether players, coaches, leaders, fans … I think human relationships are the most important of what my career has brought me. »»
“Poitiers will always be my house in France”
In this spirit, you have a solid friendship with your compatriot Luka Doncic (26 years old), the current leader of the Los Angeles Lakers (ex Real Madrid and Dallas Mavericks). How did he inspire you?
“We both played many years in Spain. As he is younger than me, I saw him grow up and we became very close to the national team. He played an important role in my career because I saw how talented he was and what state of mind he has for basketball. I tried to copy things but just a few because I couldn’t do everything. »»
Luka Rupnik has developed a good relationship with Poitevin supporters.
© (Photo of Archives Cor. NR-CP, Alain Biais)
Your only experience in France will have been in Poitiers. What do you remember from this one?
“When I got here, I didn’t know anything about the club or the city, but what I remember today is that Poitiers will always be my house in France. I have excellent relations with players, coaches, fans, employees, leaders with Presidents Sébastien (Guérin), Eric (Pinaud) and Philippe (Lachaume). I know it’s not over, we will certainly stay friends and maybe we will do something else together in the future. Poitiers made me extremely welcome, I will always remember it. »»
You will only have played two seasons but you quickly became one of the players most appreciated by your sporting qualities as well as your state of mind. What inspires you?
“It’s a compliment for me. I perceive the relationship with fans, I know that I am appreciated. I give everything on the field because I fight for the colors of the club, I give it all my energy. Sometimes it’s good, other times it is not well perceived by the referees, but it is life. I just want to compete and win. In the end, I want people to say that I was one of them and that I did everything I could for Poitiers. »»
Luka Rupnik felt very welcome by Poitiers, and in particular the presidents like Philippe Lachaume.
© (Photo of Archives Cor. NR-CP, Alain Biais)
Now that you have announced your decision, what state of mind are you for the last games of the season?
“I made my decision a few months ago. I felt ready. I knew that the more the last games would happen, the stronger the emotion could be. I talked a lot to my wife, with close friends. It is not easy because everyone says that when a player or an athlete puts an end to his career, part of him dies. I feel it, it is something that you cannot perceive as long as you have not experienced it. It’s not easy. I decided to announce it a little before the end of the season in order to have time to enjoy the last games to come, I wanted the fans to know. Not only in Poitiers but also those with which I have forged links in other countries. »»
You will play your last home game of the first phase this Friday against Antibes. How do you approach it?
“It will be a very important match because Antibes, just like us, is fighting to be in play-in or play-offs. We know each other well, they have a good team, a big budget, but I think we have a good alchemy on our side. John (Ojiako) and Jahvon (Blair) are back, we will be ready. »»
The point of Poitevin and Andy Thornton-Jones have developed a solid relationship, based on mutual respect.
© (Photo of Archives Cor. NR-CP, Alain Biais)
How far do you think that the Poitiers basket can go at the end of the season?
“I am not good for forecasts but I hope that we will go as far as possible. Everyone’s dream is that one day, Poitiers returns to Pro A (Betclic Elite). I don’t want to sink or close any doors. We are capable of it and we will see. We have a very good team, everyone does everything in attack, in defense, everywhere. Jo (Jeanne) is for me the best pivot in the championship, Jay (Blair) is one of the best markers and you have young players who like to fight, show their talents, without forgetting our captain (Kévin Harley) who gives everything to every match. We have a lot of weapons. Our coach, Andy (Thornton-Jones), has done an incredible job since the third division so that Poitiers reaches this level, he has a lot of credit in all of this. Without forgetting Arnaud (Marius), the GM, and the presidents who are very attentive for everything to be perfect and that we only have to focus on basketball. »»
the coach’s eye
Luka Rupnik has permanently marked the pb. (Photo of archives Cor. NR-CP, Stéphane Glésaz)
In two years, Luka Rupnik will have established an accomplice relationship with Andy Thornton-Jones. The Poitevin coach pays tribute to him. “Luka, it is already a hell of a character that I discovered last year and that I learned to appreciate that it is on and off the field. He is a slightly whimsical player, who has an knowledge of the exceptional game. He is a computer on the ground, he thinks of everything and he always has a step ahead. He is able to find incredible passes and can also be very precious in scoring, especially at three points. He has shown for two years that he was able to be decisive in hot moments. That’s all we expected from him when we recruited him. He also has a lot of leadership in his own way, he is one of my relays in group management. He is someone who is quite funny in the extra-basketball. He will have done two years with us, it is the end of a rich career whether in the countries where he went, in the European Cup or in the national team. It’s a beautiful CV. He is in love with basketball, he loves competition but I think his body tells him that it is time to do something else and it is a bit of a heartbreak for him. He wants to move on in his family and professional projects. People do not necessarily know that basketball players who play abroad are far from their family. He lives a moment when you have to make a choice. He is ready to move on but I think he will continue to work in basketball. For my part, I will keep contact with him because we have experienced a lot of things for two years and we have forged a relationship that I appreciate together. »»
The Play-In Insured, the Hoped Play-Offs
Since the defeat of Saint-Chamond-Andrézieux on Wednesday against Fos-sur-Mer (83-84), the Poitiers Basket 86 is guaranteed to participate at least in the Play-in. But, two games from the end of the first phase, the Poitevin club is still in the race to finish one of the first six places and therefore qualify directly for the play-offs. For this, a flawlessness, this Friday against Antibes and Tuesday in Nantes, seems necessary.
And the first obstacle promises to be strong as the Azureans where Antoine Eïto and the Poitevin Bathist Tchouaffé evolve are on an impressive dynamic with 9 victories in the last 11 games. “We have roughly the samemischievously slips Andy Thornton-Jones whose team is 8 successes over the same period. It’s nice to be in the race, there is concentration and determination. Antibes has large financial means, infrastructure, humans. It is a French historic club that aims above. There is a lot of experience in this collective, with, of course, his coach, JD Jackson, very high level leaders, an American, Green, who is one of the strongest talents in the championship. It is also very strong on the pivot position with LOUM and BOROVNJAK. »»
And, good news, the PB will be able to align a whole group since John Ojiako and Jahvon Blair make their return. “It is true but we will not be in full possession of our means since they have not played for some time and there is therefore a big lack of rhythm. We will have to leave them a little time so that they find all their sensations. »»
The PB has shown that without these important elements, it was able to chain good results. A good thing in anticipation of the duel this evening when, if successful, the Sharks will be able to go back to the Poitevins, provided they reverse the point-range. On the outward journey, they lost 18 points (59-77) to Azurarena.
