After his incredible reception on Wednesday night (04/09), Mr Evan Fournier was presented by Olympiakos with a press conference at SEF.
The French superstar spoke about the “bond” he has had for years with her his new teamwhich he has held since 2010, when he watched the “red and white” in Paris Final Four up close.
At the same time, he referred to his friendly relationship with Mustafa Falwho was the… insider in his transfer, for the incredible emotions that the reception from thousands of fans created for him, but also for his impatience to play his basketball Giorgos Bartzokas.
In detail what he said:
“Hello (s.s. spoke Greek). I am very happy to be here, I thank George and Panagiotis for giving me this opportunity. What I experienced yesterday at the reception was something crazy, it was the craziest experience of my life. I’m ready to work with my new coach and my teammates and I can’t wait to get on the field.”
On what made him tweet this in 2022: “My first experience with Olympiakos was not that, it was in Paris in 2010 at the Final Four. I was among the friends of Olympiakos, I was very young, only 16 years old. My favorite player was Thodoris Papaloukas for years. From 2012 onwards there is a story that binds me to the team, my favorite team in Europe has always been Olympiacos”.
On whether he had an offer from the Bucks and how Olympiacos convinced him: “I had contacts with a few teams before the Olympics, but never an offer from the Bucks. I had an offer from the Wizards but it wasn’t something I wanted for my career. I want to experience intense emotions, to be part of a special project. It was the best choice of all I had.”
For the Angelopoulos and the Greek league: “I just met Panagiotis, so I can’t speak (s.s. laughs). What I saw yesterday from George, I considered it something very kind, he showed me with his attitude that I am part of a special team, it was something that came from his heart, he showed me that not everything is just business. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the Greek league. I’ve seen the videos about Thessaloniki throwing objects on the pitch, but I know a few things.”
@sporfm946 ???? ???????????? ??????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????????????????? ?? ??Big year with many goals, we want to win them #olympiacos #sporfm #fournier ?? original sound – sporfm946
On whether it will take time to adjust: “It won’t take time to adapt to European basketball, but it will take time to adapt to my team and my teammates and coach. FIBA basketball is the same, they have no differences. I will need to get used to the Euroleague and the new courts, but I am a professional, I have played many years in the NBA, so it will not be a problem, basketball is just basketball. I can’t wait to discover everything.”
For the position that will be called to compete: “We haven’t spoken to the coach yet, we just met. I talked to Fal and I have learned that now I will be a three (sb laughs), but basketball is basketball and I have the skills. Throughout my career I have played two, but I have no problem playing anywhere.”
For what he expects from the season and for the derby with Panathinaikos: “I just signed with Olympiakos but I’ve been asking Fal for years, because I’ve always been interested in the Euroleague and European basketball. I don’t know what to expect, yesterday I expected something just pleasant in the reception and I experienced something incredible. I have nothing to say about Panathinaikos, except that we have to play hard to beat them.”
For the world: “I’m quite an introvert and I’ve always been shy, I didn’t know what to expect when I saw all these people. I was impressed, gradually I started to relax and felt very comfortable, like at home. It was a profound experience that I lived and I will not forget it.”
@sporfm946 The welcome of Giorgos and Panagiotis Angelopoulos to Evan Fournier #sporfm #olympiacos ? original sound – sporfm946
For his teammates who stand out: “I only know my teammates from watching games, apart from Fal who we’ve known for a long time. I have played against Dorsey a bit in the NBA, I know Walkup from the Greek National Team. But I don’t know them personally, this will be a big part of our success, to get to know them well because the friendship will also come out on the field”.
About what Fal was telling him: “He didn’t have to convince me to come, I knew what I wanted. I mainly asked him practical things, about travel, training, living conditions in Greece. I was always interested in coming, he never had to convince me. The only thing that bothers me is that he wears “10” (s.s. laughs), I tried to take it from him but he wouldn’t let me.”
On whether he dreams of a retirement ceremony like that of Printezis: “Printezis had many great years with this team and means a lot to Olympiacos. I don’t know what to expect after yesterday, the fans are excited and expect us to do well. But as a player you always try to focus on today.”
For Bartzokas: “The good thing is that I am a player who adapts easily to any style. Mpartzokas is one of the best coaches and in favor of team play. One can easily see how the ball moves, the energy of the team. I found this team’s basketball very attractive, it’s team spirit and the players are humble and fighting, just like me. I didn’t want to go somewhere where they play basketball like in the NBA, with a lot of iso.”
To compare scoring ease in NBA and Europe: “When we say that scoring in Europe is more difficult, we mean that the defenses are more organized and the floor is smaller. In the NBA, on-ball defenses are tougher and players are faster, but if you get past the first player, then it’s easy. In Europe, two more players follow. I’ll adapt and find ways to score, with floaters or from mid-range, I can do anything.”
On Fal’s first reaction to learning of the transfer, and Lessor: “He was happy but I had already told him 2-3 days before so he wasn’t surprised. His first reaction was to tell me “let’s go win the Euroleague”. For Lesor, when there started rumors that I might come to Olympiakos, he told me “we just won with Panathinaikos, we’re having a good time, don’t come because we won’t have a good time, stay where you are”. We have a special relationship, we were roommates in 2019.”
Source: Sport Fm
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