By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After 12 years in the NBA, French international Evan Fournier is back in Europe and will have the chance to play in the EuroLeague with Olympiacos Piraeus.
He landed in Greece and was welcomed by a huge number of fans. Today, he finally spoke to the media during his presentation as an Olympiacos player.
“I am very happy to be here and I want to thank the Presidents for bringing me here. I am ready to work, train, meet my teammates, and learn to work with my new coach,” Fournier said.
He talked about his bond with the Piraeus team, which goes way back.
“My first experience with Olympiacos was at the Paris Final Four. I was 16, very young, and I was really impressed. Growing up, my favorite player was Papaloukas. I remember when Printezis hit the floater for the championship… It’s something I can’t explain, but my favorite team growing up was Olympiacos.”
The French international admitted he had offers to stay in the NBA and explained why he ultimately chose Olympiacos.
“I had contacts with some contenders during the summer, before the Olympics. I had an offer from the Wizards, but that wasn’t something I wanted for my career right now. I came to Olympiacos to experience strong emotions, play in big games, and be part of a special project. This was the opportunity at the right time and by far the best option for me.”
The 31-year-old sharpshooter believes he will adapt easily to EuroLeague basketball.
“What I want is just to adapt to my team, my teammates, and how the coach wants me to play, but FIBA basketball is FIBA basketball, whether it’s national teams or EuroLeague. I will discover the EuroLeague, how everything works, the teams, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Explaining why he will not have any issues, Fournier also talked about the difference in the style of play: “First of all, I think, when we say it’s, it’s harder to score in Europe, I think it refers to the style of play, the rules and the defense in Europe which is more organized. The court is a bit smaller, and in the NBA there are probably better on-ball defenders, there are better athletes, and they can run you off the line faster. But if you beat your first guy initially, then it’s easier. When a guy like Luca says it’s easier to score in, in the NBA it is because he beats this guy every time, whereas in Europe, he beats his guy, but then there’s two guys, three guys”.
The Fall connection
Fournier will have the chance to play with his countryman and national team teammate, Moustapha Fall. What was Fall’s first reaction to Evan joining the club?
“He told me, ‘Let’s go win the EuroLeague.’”
Fall explained to him that he might have to play as a three, rather than a classic two.
“I haven’t talked to the coach about basketball yet. It’s going to come in the upcoming days. I talked to Moustapha Fall, and he’s been telling me I’m a three, so I guess I’m a three now. I’m skilled enough to play multiple positions, do whatever the team asks me to. I’ve been playing two my whole career, but if I have to play three, I don’t see it as a problem.”
There was no need for Fall to convince him to come.
“He didn’t need to convince me because I was already interested in Olympiacos. My questions to Moustapha were mostly about details like how we travel, etc. There was no need for Fall to tell me, ‘Come, come here.’ The only negative I can find about Fall is that he wears #10, and when I asked him to give it to me, he refused.”
Fournier will join Fall in Olympiacos, but another Frenchman will be part of their biggest rivals—Mathias Lessort in Panathinaikos.
“When there were rumors about me coming back in June or July, he was telling me not to come, to stay away. We have a great relationship, used to be roommates in the 2019 World Cup.”
He knows what is at stake in the derbies against Panathinaikos.
“I’m not sure what to expect. Yesterday exceeded my expectations ten times over. What the derbies are going to be like, I have no idea. All I know is we need to beat their ass.”
Evan also admitted talking to Nikola Vucevic, with whom he played for seven years in Orlando, about returning to Europe, and the Montenegrin center made him a promise.
“Vucevic and I have been discussing it all the time lately. He is from Montenegro and is a fan of Red Star, and he was asking me a lot of questions about my transition here. He loves European basketball as well. If he doesn’t come to the playoffs, he will come see me play here,” Evan Fournier concluded.