EUROLEAGUE
02.09.2024 | 18:46
AP PHOTO/MARK J. TERRILL
The deal is closed and Evan Fournier is returning to Europe after 12 years to wear the Olympiakos jersey.
Sasha Vezenkov was the big summer splash, but Evan Fournier will be the offseason bombshell in European basketball.
The 32-year-old French guard has agreed to a two-year contract with Olympiakos, and after 12 seasons in the NBA with the Nuggets, Magic, Celtics, Knicks, and Pistons, he is crossing the Atlantic with the goal of dominating the EuroLeague.
The Piraeus team had identified Fournier’s case many months ago, contacted him in late June, showed patience, and are now vindicated as revealed by Pantelis Diamantopoulos on the Game Night of Sunday (1/9), resulting in Georgios Bartzokas preparing to manage an amazing roster.
In his NBA career, the Frenchman averaged 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over 27.7 minutes in 704 regular-season games, while during his good eight years (2014-2022) he averaged 15.8 points with 38% from three-point range, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and one steal per 31.2 minutes in 531 games (489 times as a starter).
With the acquisition of Fournier, Olympiakos seems set to also make a sort of roster adjustment, although there is no final decision yet on the departure of any player.
The most logical scenario is that Filip Petrusev will be loaned to Red Star, as with Papapetrou – Fournier at the three, there won’t be room or time for one of Vezenkov – Peters – Petrusev to fit in and have an active role.