For his second Olympic Games consecutive under the tricolor tunic, Evan Fournier still aim very high. It must be said that with a squad strengthened by the arrival of the young nugget, Victor Wembanyama, the Blues can be ambitious for these Olympics at home…
Evan Fournier, did you follow the last NBA Draft, historic for French basketball?
I looked up to Tidjane's pick [Salaün] and I went to bed, but it's a lot of pride. Doing 1, 2 and 6 is unheard of! I don't know if other countries have already managed to do this. [uniquement les États-Unis, ndlr]. I hope they will perform and represent France well. I'm very happy and can't wait to see what they're worth.
How do you explain the resounding success of the French team, particularly in the last two years, with two Draft No. 1s in a row, something unimaginable a few years ago?
More and more, scouts value our championship and our prospects. More than elsewhere in Europe. It shows that there is quality in our young people. We must continue to train well.
Tidjane Salaün rightly said that the NBA player who influenced him the most was Evan Fournier…
It is a pleasure. We played in the same club in Nanterre. I met him when he was little, we were able to chat at the time. He has my number so if he wants to talk to me, all he has to do is call me. I already spoke to him, [mais je garderai ça pour moi car] it's personal.
“It was an exceptional Marseillaise, it gave me chills.”
What do you think of the competition, in particular Team USA, who will likely be the toughest opponent?
Very strong. They brought out some big names, but that's the case at every Olympics! I don't find that particularly new. What's different is that LeBron James is back. At the World Cups, they generally send more young players, whereas at the Olympics, it's more the big players. I can't wait to see how they're going to play, how they're going to evolve, what kind of basketball they're going to offer with Steve Kerr. I think it's great for basketball that they're all coming, that's how it should be. With all these stars, I think basketball can be one of the flagship events of these Olympics.
You experienced Euro 2015 in Lille. Are you happy to return to the Pierre Mauroy stadium in its basketball configuration?
I hope we don't repeat 2015 [sourire pincé, en référence à la défaite amère en demi-finale contre l’Espagne], but I have magnificent memories of these four matches played there. We had the round of 16 against Turkey, where I remember shootaround that the room was empty and we were thinking that it didn't look great. But once the match started, it took on a completely different dimension, it was an exceptional Marseillaise, it gave you goosebumps… Over these three group matches, I hope we'll relive those emotions. The downside is that with the way tickets are purchased, spectators don't choose their match. I won't dwell on that, but I hope we'll have our fans, our French supporters with us!
How do you see the integration of Victor Wembanyama within the France group?
He doesn't have to think particularly, he just has to play his game naturally. I know that Victor is someone ambitious who wants to perform. He just has to give the best of himself.
“The offense will get going in the game.”
Were you able to discuss your role in attack with the coach, knowing that it would have to change quite a bit with Victor Wembanyama?
We haven't talked about it at all, and it's not the priority to be honest. We have a lot of other things to put in place before that. Then the attack, that's done in the game. We have systems, but we all know who has scoring qualities, who is more of a defender… We all know our qualities, the attack will be put in place in the game.
You had a difficult season individually, with little playing time and then a transfer to Detroit (who just released him). What state of mind are you in for this Olympic project?
I'm not looking for revenge, strictly speaking. I'm someone who has always thrived on positivity. I'm very happy to start this campaign, to be back with the guys and to be able to play high-level basketball again. My season, at first, I was waiting and, secondly, I was there to have fun again and play again.
As a veteran now, what is your view on the evolution of European basketball? And its gradual integration into the NBA sphere?
It's indisputable. There is a new vision of European basketball, and in particular of French basketball. You take the example of my Draft [en 2012], I was the only European player chosen in the first round, and I was the 20th pick! Things have changed a lot. The game is much more globalized. We have MVPs and trophies which are increasingly focused on international players.
Comments collected at INSEP
| Evan Fournier | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | DEN | 38 | 11 | 49.3 | 40.7 | 76.9 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.3 |
| 2013-14 | DEN | 76 | 20 | 41.9 | 37.6 | 75.6 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 8.4 |
| 2014-15 | ENT | 58 | 29 | 44.0 | 37.8 | 72.8 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 12.0 |
| 2015-16 | ENT | 79 | 33 | 46.2 | 40.0 | 83.6 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 15.4 |
| 2016-17 | ENT | 68 | 33 | 43.9 | 35.6 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 17.2 |
| 2017-18 | ENT | 57 | 32 | 45.9 | 37.9 | 86.7 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 17.8 |
| 2018-19 | ENT | 81 | 32 | 43.8 | 34.0 | 80.6 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 15.1 |
| 2019-20 | ENT | 66 | 31 | 46.7 | 39.9 | 81.8 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 18.5 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 42 | 30 | 45.7 | 41.3 | 78.8 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 17.1 |
| 2020-21 * | ENT | 26 | 30 | 46.1 | 38.8 | 79.7 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 19.7 |
| 2020-21 * | BOS | 16 | 30 | 44.8 | 46.3 | 71.4 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 13.0 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 80 | 30 | 41.7 | 38.9 | 70.8 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 14.1 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 27 | 17 | 33.7 | 30.7 | 85.7 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 6.1 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 32 | 18 | 35.7 | 25.4 | 80.6 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 6.9 |
| 2023-24 * | DET | 29 | 19 | 37.3 | 27.0 | 79.4 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 7.2 |
| 2023-24 * | NYK | 3 | 13 | 20.0 | 13.3 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Total | 704 | 28 | 44.1 | 37.4 | 79.9 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 13.7 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
