“It’s pure fun, up to my expectations or even more,” relishes Evan Fournier star of Olympiakos

“If one day I had to go back to Europe and I had the choice to go wherever I want, I think I would go to Olympiacos. It’s still a hell of a club.”wrote Evan Fournier on the social network X in May 2022.

A little more than two years later, here is Fournier (32 years old, 1.98 m) installed in the Peace and Friendship stadium, the home of the Piraeus club, Greek giant three-time winner of the Euroleague ( 1997, 2012 and 2013).

Serene and relaxed before receiving Vitoria on Thursday in the Euroleague: “I’m here to experience an adventure filled with emotions”after having experienced too little during the previous 18 months, at the New York Knicks then at the Detroit Pistons.

“I came here to relive basketball to the fullest and so far it’s exactly what I expected.”he smiles.

“The team fits my mentality very well. It's simple, I don't worry. I adapt to the needs of the team and the coach's requests. I remain myself, simple, hardworking, involved. It works well” assure Evan Fournier.

After a few weeks of adaptation, the 32-year-old French fullback found his place within a talented and particularly ambitious collective (Sasha Vezenkov, Tyler Dorsey, Kostas Papanikolaou…) coached by Georgios Bartzokas: he displays an average by 20.3 points over their last four Euroleague games.

“We’re getting into the rhythm. It’s important to get your bearings and settle down calmly” he explains.

“The air conditioning”

Evan Fournier

The victory on the field of the eternal enemy Panathinaikos (94-89), on November 8 in the Euroleague, of which he was one of the great architects with 22 points including eight in the last moments of the match, came at the right time appointed.

“It was a great moment. Outside, turning on the air conditioning in the room… it was a great moment, it was cool. I came for these kinds of matches” he admits.

Enough to put a little more in the pocket of the ardent Olympiakos supporters, whose jubilation he shared after the match according to videos broadcast on social networks, and feel their passion.

“There is popular fervor. My arrival created a buzz here, it's true that people are extremely enthusiastic when they meet me in the street, in everyday life. During the matches – so far we are undefeated at home – there is really something special that happens. It’s pure brilliance, living up to my expectations or even more” he savors.

“We’ll see” for the Blues

Evan Fournier

The atmosphere in the stands and the enthusiasm for a club which will celebrate its centenary in 2025 had, in fact, largely counted in his choice to join Piraeus in September.

“When you return to Europe, you want to go to a historic club, with a particular “fanbase”. I spent twelve years in the NBA, I experienced some great moments, I don't want to come back and experience something mundane. I want to experience something exceptional” insists Fournier.

At Olympiakos, the French international (118 selections) reunited with Moustapha Fall, whom he worked with during his younger years in Poitiers and then in the French team.

“He played a big part in my recruitment. I wanted to come ''basic'', but that added extra weight. His presence made my transition much easier. When you have someone you've known for a long time and who you trust, it's easier.” he assures.

While Fall and Fournier will host Vitoria, the France team, now coached by Frédéric Fauthoux, will travel to Cyprus as part of the Euro-2025 qualifiers.

A deadline still far away for the silver medalist in Paris, part of the Blues in recent campaigns before experiencing a final, more eventful Olympic tournament: “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it yet. It was such a big upheaval, this arrival in Europe, that I didn't plan ahead. We’ll see what the project is.”

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