Eurobasket – Evan Fournier, the boss’s hour

In France, in basketball more than elsewhere, generations are named by their year of birth. There was the 1982, the most famous of all, that of Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, that of 88-89 whose proudest representative is called Nicolas Batum and, while waiting for the next one, that of 1992 led by Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert. As time went by, the latter took power this year, well helped by the temporary defections of Batum and De Colo. This Euro must be historic for this duo, but if the pivot has marked its territory, it is not the same for the rear.

15 points on average at 37.8% in shooting, Evan Fournier has achieved his worst competition since 2019 (18 pts at 45% at the Games, 19.7 pts at 42% at the World Cup). Why ? We can put forward three hypotheses: the first, the France team plays less well and Fournier has fewer “easy” shots. The second, which joins the first moreover, the absences of Nando de Colo and Nicolas Batum do him harm. The third, after a lugging season at the Knicks, he lacks confidence. The cocktail is not the most digestible for Fournier who still managed a peak of 27 units against the Lithuanians.

This team is that of Fournier

Against Italy in the quarter-finals, everything had started well. Two three-point shots and a basket with the foul under the basket already sent him to nine points… more than half of his final total. The icing on the cake if we can say, the Val-de-Marnais had to leave their partners for six faults in overtime. It is without him that the Blues have finished the job. Will they be able to until the final with a Fournier inside?

He suffered too much in Blue

This Euro can therefore consecrate Evan Fournier, if not in the pantheon of French basketball, at least in its history. If by chance the France team were to triumph as it did in 2013, the New York back would undoubtedly reap a little more laurels than the others due to his status. Still, he needs to make two last matches at a very high level. Because so far, it has rather blown cold. But Fournier has suffered too much in the France team to agree to miss each other and compromise the collective objective.

Euro 2013, Evan Fournier is certain to be there but is not retained by Vincent Collet. 2016 Olympic Games, same story. World Cup 2019, the Blues hit the United States in the quarter but lose the half against Argentina. They save the bronze but it does not satisfy the player who pulls the face on the podium. Three moments, three disappointments and above all three missed appointments. Facing Poland first this Friday (5:15 p.m.) then in the final, perhaps, here are two new ones. And this time, Fournier has every interest in being punctual.