By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos Piraeus star Evan Fournier lauded ASVEL Villeurbanne guard and fellow French player Theo Maledon after the latter’s tremendous performance in the EuroLeague game between the two sides.
“He [Maledon] did kill us. For sure.” Fournier said after pouring 20 points to help his team survive ASVEL 94 – 92 following a comeback from down 14. The French side almost pulled off a huge upset, courtesy of Maledon’s spectacular performance of 31 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
“I think he wants to kill every team he’s playing against,” Fournier added when asked if Maledon had extra motivation against a powerhouse like Olympiacos and facing a player he knows well like Fournier. “He probably feels like he’s the best point guard in the EuroLeague because that’s his mindset. And that’s the right mindset to have. I’m happy for him that he’s playing so well and he’s only going to get better.”
The 23-year-old Maledon joined ASVEL this season after three years in the NBA. The 34th overall pick of 2020, he had a pretty solid rookie year with the Oklahoma City Thunder, putting up 10.1 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 27.4 minutes. The next season though his playing time dropped to 17.8 minutes and then he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets on September 2022.
Maledon was waived and then signed a two-way contract with the Hornets, getting some G-League assignments. He joined the Phoenix Suns on a two-way deal as well in 2023 but played just four NBA games before parting ways with the team last March.
“He’s a terrific young player. What happened to him in the NBA is very unfortunate. Spending three years without playing,” Fournier commented. The veteran NBA wing can certainly sympathize due to his own struggle to get minutes in his last two seasons with the New York Knicks after a quite productive run in the league for several years.
“He deserves the world,” Fournier added. “He’s a good kid. He’s a good worker. He has a bright future. And he’s showing Europe he’s really good.” So far Maledon is averaging 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in the 2024-25 EuroLeague.
Thanks to the victory over ASVEL, Olympiacos is now riding a 4-0 wave in the EuroLeague that also includes wins over powerhouses Real Madrid, Barcelona, and reigning champion Panathinaikos Athens. Fournier has been averaging 20.3 over the last three games while contributing multiple crucial buckets in crunch time.
“I’m trying to find ways to help the team. That’s it, man,” Fournier said. “I’m enjoying being out there on the court with the guys and the fans more and more. Still, I feel like I can do a lot better, to be honest. But I’m getting there.”