Alright, hoop heads, buckle up! We’ve got some juicy basketball drama to dive into today.
Evan Fournier’s Bold Move Across the Pond
After two seasons of warming Thibodeauโs bench in New York, Evan Fournier decided it was time for a change. This summer, he balled out for France, snagging a silver medal in the Paris Olympics and dropping an average of 9.8 points per game. But the NBA bench? Nah, he wasnโt about that life anymore.
So, what did Fournier do? He turned down a two-year offer from the Wizards and signed with EuroLeague powerhouse Olympiacos in Greece. Yep, you read that right. The man had a vision, and it all started back in May 2022 when he caught the EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade. The Greek fans blew his mind, and he knew he had to be part of that vibe before hanging up his sneakers.
"I want to play competitive basketball. Meaningful gamesโฆ Going from Detroit to the Olympics gave me life. I want to continue like this," Fournier shared. (via @Eurohoopsnet)
The Olympiacos Connection
โItโs like every planet has aligned for me to come here,โ Fournier told Eurohoops. โSometimes thereโs things you canโt explain. Itโs like when you find your wife โ you canโt explain. Iโve always looked at Olympiacos like a club that means something to me. I donโt know why.โ
Helping France snag that Olympic silver really opened his eyes. He realized he was still in his prime and could bring serious heat to any team. Feeling stuck in Detroit was a drag, but the Olympics reignited his passion. โGoing from Detroit to the Olympics gave me life. I want to continue like this,โ he admitted. And honestly, who can blame him?
NBAโs Dark Side
Fournier also spilled some tea on why he wasnโt feeling the NBA anymore. He mentioned one of the โdark sidesโ of the league: teams tanking for higher draft picks. โI think one of the dark sides of the NBA is when teams are losing on purpose to get the higher Draft picks,โ he said.
In my opinion, it’s refreshing to see a player call out the system. Tanking might be strategic, but it sure kills the competitive spirit.
EuroLeague vs. NBA: The Scoring Debate
Fournier echoed Luka Doncicโs thoughts on scoring in the NBA versus Europe. According to him, the NBA has better individual defenders, but that doesnโt necessarily make it tougher to score. โIn the NBA, there are better defenders on the ball, players who can chase you faster on the perimeter,โ he explained. But in Europe, thereโs always a second or third defender ready to contest a shot once the first guy is beaten.
Check out Luka breaking it down himself in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/zYVXAClL_FU
New Rivals and Fresh Challenges
One of Fournierโs soon-to-be rivals, Mathias Lessort, had some thoughts on the new talent joining the EuroLeague. โItโs a challenge for all of us, and weโll have to fight for minutes. Cedi Osman is a great player: he can create and shoot, contribute defensively, and, of course, having a player of that caliber is very good for the team,โ the Panathinaikos player said.
โOlympiacos had a great summer in terms of new players and transfer market work. However, we won the EuroLeague and the Greek League last year, and they took it personally,โ Lessort added, hinting at the fierce competition ahead.
So, what do you think? Will Fournier thrive in Europe, or will he miss the bright lights of the NBA? Drop your thoughts below!
