After leaving to Euroleague, Evan Fournier talks concerning the NBA's ‘darkish aspect’

After two-long seasons caught on coach Tom Thibodeau’s bench in New York, Evan Fournier determined he needed one thing new in his profession. This summer time he received the chance to serve a serious function in France’s silver medal within the Paris Olympics and even averaged 9.8 factors per sport, and now it looks like he wasn’t keen to return to an NBA bench. 

These are a part of the the explanation why the European participant rejected the prospect of signing a two-year supply given by the Wizards and as a substitute inked a brand new contract with EuroLeague big Olympiacos in Greece.

For Evan it began in Could 2022, when he attended EuroLeague Last 4 in Belgrade after ending his record-breaking season in New York. The participant later revealed that he was amazed by the environment that the Greek followers had been creating within the area, which was the second he determined he needed to return to Europe earlier than retiring.

“I wish to play aggressive basketball. Significant video games… Going from Detroit to the Olympics gave me life. I wish to proceed like this.”

Evan Fournier on his purpose for becoming a member of Olympiacos 👀

(by way of @Eurohoopsnet)

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“It’s like each planet has aligned for me to return right here,” he instructed Eurohoops. “Generally there’s issues you’ll be able to’t clarify. It’s like if you discover your spouse – you’ll be able to’t clarify. I’ve at all times checked out Olympiacos like a membership meaning one thing to me. I don’t know why.”

The French worldwide admitted that serving to his nation earn a silver medal within the Olympics this summer time, actually opened his eyes to the truth that he’s nonetheless on the prime of his profession and may contribute immensely to any crew. In a means, he felt caught in Detroit, after a really irritating marketing campaign with the Pistons.

“Going from Detroit to the Olympics gave me life. I wish to proceed like this,” he acknowledged, whereas explaining that he hopes to suit into Olympiacos’ system, and doesn’t thoughts what sort of offensive function he shall be given. .

The veteran additionally mentioned that he wasn’t having fun with basketball anymore in the USA, and even talked about one of many “darkish sides” of the NBA. “I believe one of many darkish sides of the NBA is when groups are dropping on function to get the upper Draft picks,” he stated this weekend.

The Former Pistons Participant Concurs With Slovenian Star Luka Doncic About NBA Being Simpler To Rating Than Euroleague

The French star echoed the feelings delivered by Luka Doncic prior to now, by which the Slovenian has assured time and time once more that the NBA presents extra scoring alternatives than the European sport. Fournier famous that NBA defenders are higher individually, however it doesn’t translate in lesser offensive contests.

“Within the NBA, there are higher defenders on the ball, gamers who can chase you quicker on the perimeter,” he stated firstly of the month, by way of Eurohoops. He then defined that in Europe there’s at all times a second or third defender able to contest a shot, as soon as the primary defender was overwhelmed.

One among his largest new rivals, Mathias Lessort, talked about what Evan and different new signings will deliver to the league this upcoming season. “It’s a problem for all of us, and we’ll should combat for minutes. Cedi Osman is a good participant: he can create and shoot, contribute defensively, and, after all, having a participant of that caliber is superb for the crew,” the Panathinaikos participant shared.

“Olympiacos had a fantastic summer time by way of new gamers and switch market work. Nevertheless, we gained the EuroLeague and the Greek League final 12 months, and so they took it personally,” Lessort saved at it, explaining how the EuroLeague’s competitiveness will develop solely with these gifted arrivals.