Evan Fournier is thriving at Olympiacos, embracing the team’s passionate mentality after 12 NBA seasons. He contrasts the Greek directness with the NBA’s polished approach and enjoys his EuroLeague experience, aiming for a title alongside former teammate Moustapha Fall.
Evan Fournier is thriving in Piraeus after a particularly frustrating end to his NBA adventure.
3-pointers this season
Olympiacos Piraeus
EuroLeague
The Frenchman is averaging 16.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists over the Red's first 28 EuroLeague games. In his team's last outing, the 32-year-old racked up 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists as Olympiacos Piraeus downed Partizan 82-70 in Piraeus.
Olympiacos lead the standings at 21-7 and are projected as the No.1 candidate to win first place at the end of the regular season.
"We have a fairly experienced squad, which has already experienced a lot of disappointments. There's no enthusiasm, even though we all know the goal is to win the EuroLeague).
I'm not going to lie to you. It starts with a big derby this week against Panathinaikos," Fournier added.
The Greek derby for Round 29 is scheduled for this Friday at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Panathinaikos, currently at 18-10, come off a 4-game winning streak and beat their main rivals in the Cup final that was held in Crete a month ago.
"It's hard to realize how important it is for them," Fournier admitted referring to the rivalry.
"When I say 'them,' I mean the club, the supporters," he clarified,
"We've already played Pana five times this season, with two wins and three losses. And frankly, when you lose, the rest of the week is difficult for everyone," he sighed.
"You feel like it's not just another game. And when you win, the rest of the week is relaxing," Fournier cracked a smile.
Olympiacos Piraeus / Schedule
"It's very special! I'm only just beginning to really take in the measure of it."
Following a 12-year NBA stint, Fournier returned to Europe. Somewhat surprisingly, this is his very first EuroLeague experience - let alone Greek experience.
"I didn't really know what to expect at first," he recalled.
"I'd never been to Athens, or even Greece for that matter, except for a quick tournament with the French U16 team. I was discovering it, and in fact, their temperament really stuck with me.
The Greeks are passionate, intense, very direct, they have no filter - and that's something that resonates with me, especially after 12 years in the United States where they do things differently. Over there, they tell you all the time that everything is fine. It's not a criticism, it's just a different culture," Fournier noted.
"Here, it's much more in line with my mentality, and that of my wife too. We really like it here," he stressed.
And what about basketball?
"I'm having a blast!" he pointed out with excitement.
"We have a great coach (Giorgos Bartzokas), who has a really great philosophy. In fact, we have all the elements combined to have a blast," the French guard repeated.
Fournier also revealed that Moustapha Fall recruited him to Olympiacos, even though the big man "stays in his corner all the time."
"I'm very happy to be reunited with Mous, with whom I was at Poitiers. We get along very well. To use Vincent Collet's expression, he's a bit of a totem. He's the quiet strength, he's our anchor, and he's having a very good season too.
I'm very happy to be able to share minutes with him again and I hope we can lift a trophy together," he said of his friend and teammate.
"We spoke on the phone several times," Fall confirmed.
"He asked me several questions about the club, the way we play, the fans, Athens, all the topics related to his adjustment. I helped him a little with that, but Evan is someone who adapts very quickly."
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