By Stavros Barbarousis / sbarbarousis@eurohoops.net
ABU DHABI (United Arab Emirates) – After 12 years in the NBA, Evan Fournier returned to Europe to help Olympiacos return to the top of the Euroleague for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
The Greek powerhouse finished on top of the regular season with a 24-10 record and advanced with ease in the playoffs against Real Madrid (3-1). They need two more games, however, defeat is not an option in a knockout tournament.
Fournier, who is a rookie in the EuroLeague Final Four but has been in the past in many similar situations with the French national team, is not fazed by the moment.
“It’s natural to be a little nervous, it can be positive. OK, we’re still one day away from the game,” said the 33-year-old French star about a game that will decide the season for Olympiacos, with the hope and wish that there will be a final for the Greeks, even if Fournier didn’t want to label this game as the biggest of his club career.
“The biggest game is always the next one. I don’t like to evaluate games. Is it one of the biggest games in my career? Yes, but I’ve played a lot of those,” he commented.
Does it matter that the opposing coach is Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos club legend, leader of the back-to-back winning team, who is currently on the bench of Monaco?
For Fournier, who has played against Spanoulis in national team competition, this doesn’t make any difference.
“No, to be honest. It doesn’t matter. It’s something that makes the story beautiful for others, maybe even for those who were his teammates. But I’m new to the team, it doesn’t matter for me.”