For 90 days get to know more about the international faces of the NBA. Day 31 brings…
Evan Fournier (SG, Orlando Magic), France
Height: 1.98m, 6-foot-6| Weight: 90.7kg, 200 pounds | Born: 29 October 1992
Evan Fournier wants to show the world what he can do.
Or, at the very least, the people of Orlando.
After being traded from the Nuggets to the Magic in July, the rising French star will operate from a new locale in 2014-15, a season after he played in 75 games for Denver.
Despite appearing in nearly every contest, Fournier struggled to find his rhythm, often falling into foul trouble. He still managed to hit 41 percent of his threes from four of five zones on the floor, and 37.6% overall. While his distance shooting stretched the opponents' defense, Fournier longed to play like he did in France.
"I look forward to handling the ball a lot more," Fournier told the Orlando Sentinel.
And in Orlando, he may get his wish.
In 2011, at age 19, Fournier became the youngest player in French League history to score more than 20 points in a game. And after a series of accolades singling him out as a budding talent (see Achievements/Awards below), the Nuggets nabbed the young Frenchman in the 2012 NBA Draft (20th overall pick).
As a rookie in 2012-13, Fournier played only 38 games, but he didn't disappoint. He erupted against Portland, tallying 24 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 36 minutes. Against Houston, he posted 17 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals in 23 minutes.
Now he'll have a chance to flourish again, potentially looking at more playing time, continued growth and a chance to surprise the league whenever he handles the ball.
Key Stats
2013-14: 2013-14: GP: 76 | MP: 19.8 | PTS: 8.4 | REB: 2.7 | AST: 1.5 | FG%: 41.9
Season Highlight
Fournier recorded 27 points, four rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block against the Sacramento Kings on 23 February.
Achievements/Awards
*Silver medal at the Europe U18 championship in Metz, France (2009)
*Bronze medal at the Europe U20 championship in Spain (2011)
*2× French League Rising Star Award (2011, 2012)
*2× French League Most Improved Player (2011, 2012)
Five Things To Know (per Chatsports.com)
1. When drafted, Fournier couldn't speak any English. By the following season, he spoke fluently.
2. His parents were Judo athletes.
3. His favorite movies are the "Lord of the Rings" series. A self-proclaimed "geek," he's also a big fan of "The Matrix, "Star Wars" and movies of that genre.
4. His favorite food is a Senegalese dish called Thiéboudienne: a mix between fish and rice.
5. If he wasn't a basketball player, he'd be a paleontologist.
Check out Fournier's photos and video in the LEAGUE section of NBA Game Time.
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