By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Evan Fournier cemented his legacy by capturing the Most Valuable Player award at the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad.
The French superstar, who transitioned back to Europe after a prominent career in the NBA, proved to be the ultimate difference-maker for Olympiacos. His stellar play guided the Reds through a highly competitive season-ending tournament, culminating in a historic championship victory over Real Madrid at Telekom Center Athens on Sunday. His reliability on the court was the cornerstone of the team’s offense, ensuring a steady offensive flow.
Throughout the championship weekend, the 33-year-old delivered elite performances when his team needed them most. In the intense semifinal clash against Fenerbahce Beko, he provided a well-rounded foundation with ten points, four assists, and four rebounds across 24 minutes of play.
He elevated his game even further in the finale, dominating the floor for over 27 minutes. Fournier spearheaded the offense by scoring a team-high 20 points, while also contributing five rebounds, four assists, and a steal. This performance marked his fifth consecutive game scoring in double digits, underscoring his remarkable consistency.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” he said after receiving a standing ovation. “I want to say thank you to the fans. Congratulations to Madrid for a hell of a season. It was a very tough game for us, but in front of all those fans, it was impossible to lose.”
“Honestly, no,” he added, replying to a question about his side falling short in last year’s Final Four as a possible motivation for this season. “My motivation comes from love.”
His composure and leadership under pressure ultimately secured the continental crown for the Greek powerhouse, securing their fourth title and first since 2013, particularly special as it was won on the home court of their eternal rivals.
“Maybe I will end up staying more years in Piraeus than Orlando”
Later, at the postgame press conference, he went into more detail.
“I want to congratulate Madrid on a hell of a season. It was heartbreaking for them to show up with so many injuries, but they showed a lot of toughness and gave us an extremely difficult battle tonight. Coach Scariolo is a master of game planning, and we had to defend all night because they spread us out so much. We did a very good job protecting the paint, but playing against small-ball lineups is sometimes difficult for us. They played very well, but we were resilient, we were tough, we stayed together like we always do, and in the end we came away with the win. The fans gave us a huge boost — they are a big reason why we won,” Fournier said.
“I think they started the game and played harder than we did. They set the tone. They knew they had fewer weapons than usual, so they understood they had to approach the game differently,” he added about Madrid. “They were extremely prepared. They were doing some different things defensively. In games like these, it’s almost like flipping a coin — you never know what’s going to happen. They started hot, making shots and spreading us out. They took the lead, and suddenly we looked around and felt the pressure. So we had to overcome that.”
He was also asked about his favorite chant from the Olympiacos fans.
“My favorite is when they all start slowly, sitting down, and then all of a sudden they start jumping. Whatever it’s called, that one is my favorite.”
The French guard insisted that he wants to finish his career in Piraeus.
“I’m half French and half Algerian forever, but Greece has become a second home for me — I can’t even lie. When I signed here, I had never been to Greece before, but the way this organization, this team, and this fanbase embraced me, it truly feels like home. I’ve been here for two years, and I still have two more years left on my contract, so that would make it four. The only place I stayed longer was Orlando, where I spent seven years. Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up spending more years in Piraeus than in Orlando. We’ll see, but I definitely want to finish my career here.”
Back in 2022, he tweeted that Olympiacos would be the only club he would play for if he ever returned to Europe from the NBA — a decision he ultimately made in 2024.
“When I tweeted that in 2022, I was being honest. I’m not a liar or anything like that. But I honestly didn’t expect my career to take this turn so quickly. Back then, I was coming off a season with the Knicks where I broke a 30-year-old franchise record for most three-pointers. I was among the league leaders in made threes. I was in a great place, and my NBA career was going really well. Then, within a year, everything changed — from starting games and breaking records to barely playing. I didn’t see it coming that fast. So in 2024, I saw a great opportunity to keep playing at a very high level and embrace a new challenge. This opportunity came up, and I jumped at it.”
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