European basketball’s ultimate prize, the EuroLeague Final Four tips, off in Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena this weekend (May 23-25), with the Europe’s four best teams (Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Monaco) slugging it out to be crowned champions.
Among the elite vying for continental supremacy is the Greek powerhouse, Olympiacos Piraeus, who boast one of the league’s most recognizable sharpshooters: Evan Fournier.
Having spent a decade up until this point playing in the NBA (Denver, Orlando, Boston, New York), Fournier is in his ‘rookie season’ in the EuroLeague, but a rookie that carries with him a potent offensive threat and a veteran presence capable of igniting an arena.
The French international boasts a wealth of experience from his twelve seasons in the NBA, where he consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess and perimeter accuracy. He has also been a cornerstone of the French national team, helping secure back-to-back silver medals at the Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Now, as the EuroLeague Final Four is hosted outside of Europe for the first time, Fournier finds himself on the precipice of another significant chapter.
Ahead of Olympiacos’ semi-final against Monaco (May 23), Esquire Middle East caught up with the sharpshooting guard in Abu Dhabi to discuss the intensity of EuroLeague competition, the unique atmosphere of the Final Four, and what it takes to perform at the highest level when the stakes have never been higher.
ESQ: The Final Four is being held outside of Europe for the first time this time. Do you see this as a mark of greater ambition for the euro league basketball?
Evan Fournier: The EuroLeague Final Four being held in the UAE is a great opportunity when it comes to growing the brand and expanding the awareness of European basketball into a new market – and so far it’s been great. However, maybe I’m just being a purist here, but the EuroLeague Final Four is the sport’s biggest competition in Europe, and I feel that it should still be taking place in Europe where the majority of the team’s fans are.
ESQ: Speaking of the fans, which of the teams has the most intimidating atmosphere to play in?
Evan Fournier: I’m still a rookie in the EuroLeague, so I don’t know all the teams and their followings too well. But the loudest place we have played was in Belgrade against Partisan Belgrade. That was a great atmosphere. The place was packed out and the fans were singing the whole game.
ESQ: Coming to play in the EuroLeague after 12 years in the NBA, have you noticed and misperceptions about European basketball?
Evan Fournier: The view of European basketball has changed a lot over my career. When I was first drafted into the NBA (in 2012 by the Denver Nuggets), the perception over in the US was that Europeans were soft. But since then we’ve had a lot of successful European players, so I think that has really helped change the perception.
ESQ: Who was the best, and worst, room mate you’ve had?
Evan Fournier: Well, luckily in the NBA you don’t have to share rooms! But over my during the Olympics in Tokyo, I was roommates with Thomas Heurtel – a great player who played for many years in the EuroLeague. He’s a great guy and a close friend. The worst room-mate I ever had was Rudy Gobert! We used to be roommates at Under-18 level, and he used to snore like crazy!
ESQ: Speaking of the Olympics, last year you helped France to a silver medal at the your home Olympics in Paris. What is you lasting memory from that?
Evan Fournier: My lasting memory was losing the final! You never want to end in defeat, so it sticks in your head. In the last two Olympics (Tokyo and Paris) we lost in the final to Team USA both times. It’s painful, but we are proud of what we’ve accomplished.
ESQ: What was it about basketball that first made you fall in love with it?
Evan Fournier: I’ve always found basketball to be a really creative game. The more you play, the more you learn and it helps open your mind up to a lot of stuff – it’s a great form of self-expression.
ESQ: You’re still in your early thirties but already have 13 years of pro-experience. What is the secret to an athlete having a long career?
Evan Fournier: I don’t think it’s much of a secret. As a professional sportsman having a long career really comes down to your lifestyle, and by that I mean the basic stuff – eating healthy, training regularly, and getting plenty of rest. It’s all stuff that we all know, but as you get older, you become more sensitive to that kind of stuff. These days, if I don’t eat well or drink enough water and have a bad night’s sleep, I’ll feel like sh*t the next day. At the end of the day, I am a professional athlete, so taking care of myself is a key part of my job.
ESQ: As a shooter, do you still work on your technique every day? How many jump shots to you shoot a day?
Evan Fournier: When I was younger I used to be big on keeping track on the number of shots I’d do in training. As a shooter, I’d always try to take 300-350 shots per day – constantly working on technique and different ranges. But as you get older, you’re more in-tune with yourself and what you need. So I’ll leave the gym when I feel like I’m happy with what I’ve done.
ESQ: When you throw something in the trash, do you still act like it’s a jump shot.
Evan Fournier: Absolutely! I still do to this day!”