Evan Fournier in his presentation by Olympiacos: “The fans already exceeded my expectations at ten times”

He is officially a CDE player, with the Piraeus team officially presenting their team’s new major post-recording acquisition. In his presentation by Olympiacos BC, Evan Fournier thus had the opportunity to talk about his decision to choose Piraeus, but also to answer a number of journalists’ questions. Of course, the owners of the basketball team “reds”, George and Panagiotis Angelopoulos, who explained the large transfer of their team. The presentation by Angelopoulos George Angelopoulos: “Good evening, thank you for coming. We welcome Fournier to the Olympic family. We are proud of the arrival of this world athlete. They are one of the biggest names that have come to Europe and Greece. It’ll give our team another momentum. We’re excited. The statement he had made in Belgrade shows much about Olympiacos. This is the strength of Olympiacos. That’s what we’ve been building for so many years and the moment has come. Welcome, Evan”. Panagiotis Angelopoulos: “One of the biggest transfers we have made to Olympiacos. World-class player. It comes to achieve our goals, conquering Euroleague and domestic titles. Our team’s got it all the time. All these years she has been building her name, its value in European basketball. The negotiations were short, he was humble and he seemed to want to come to us. This played a great role in our approach, to end with the desired result.” Fournier’s statements “Hello. I’m so excited to be here. I signed quickly. Thank the presidents for bringing me here. Yesterday was one of the craziest moments of my life. I’m glad to be here. More importantly, I want to work, train with my teammates and Coach Bartzokas. This is a great opportunity and I look forward to being on the field.” Because the tweet he tweeted a few years ago and said he wanted to go to Olympiacos: “It wasn’t just a post. My first experience with Olympiacos was in F4 in Paris, against Barcelona. I was among Olympiacos fans and was impressed. My favorite player in Europe was Papaloukas. It is something I cannot explain, but my favorite European team has always been Olympiacos.” As to whether he had a proposal from the Bucks and why he chose Olympiacos: “We had contacts with some teams before the Olympics. I was with the Wizards, but it wasn’t what I wanted for my career. I came because I want to feel strong feelings, play big games and be part of a good project. It was the right opportunity and was the best choice.” About the presidents approach and what he knows about the Greek league: “I just met Panagiotis, but from what I lived with George yesterday. To have an owner come and welcome me, it was unthinkable what I experienced yesterday. It’s not just business, it’s something that comes out of the heart. I’ve come to live at such times. I don’t know much about the championship, I saw the video in Thessaloniki flying towels, I know Panathinaikos, us, but I don’t know much.” About whether he knows what he’s up against in Euroleague and whether he needs time to adapt: “There is no time to adapt to European basketball. I want to adapt to the team. FIBA basketball is the same as either National or Team basketball. I’ll discover Euroleague, the teams, the stadiums, the way it works. I’ve been a professional for 12 years, I won’t be in trouble. Basketball is basketball, there will be no problem.” On whether he has seen images of derby with Panathinaikos: “I just signed to the team. I asked questions because I was interested in European basketball and Euroleague. I don’t know what to expect, because yesterday I was expecting something calm, but fans overcame the expectations of a game at ten times. I don’t know what derby will be like, I just know we have to beat them.” On which position he will play: “I haven’t talked to Coach about basketball yet. Fal only told me I would be “3”. Basketball is basketball, but I can play in a lot of places, I’ll do whatever the team asks. I always played in “2”, but I will do whatever the team needs”. For his feelings from the fans’ reception: “I am an introverted man, I was shy. I didn’t know what to expect. When I saw the red white fans, I was impressed. I felt comfortable when I approached them, like I was home. The love we received yesterday was a terrible experience and I will never forget it.” About what he knows about his teammates: “I only know my teammates from games. I played against Dorsey in the NBA. I know Thomas because he plays on the National League, but personally, I don’t. I know Costa because he’s been playing for years. Personally, I don’t know them and it’s going to be a big part in our success to meet them. When you build friendships, that goes to the floor. It will be important to teach them.” About what Fal told him about the team: “He didn’t have to convince me. I know what I want, my questions to Fal were about the details. Which teams they play, how they travel, what areas it’s nice to live in. He knew I was interested, so he didn’t have to tell me to come. I only hate that he wears “10”, and I told him to give it to me but he refused.” Whether he was motivated to play in Euroleague and whether he came for it: “I came because it was an opportunity, I was free. When I tweeted I had a contract with the Knicks and there was no chance. It was just an opportunity to come.” For Vucevic’s reaction, he tweeted about the reception of Fournier and tomorrow’s friend for Printezis: “We talk to Vucevic every day. He’s a Red Star fan asking me a lot of questions. He loves European basketball. He tells me if he doesn’t join the Play-offs he’ll come see me here. Printezis had many good years and means a lot to Olympiacos. It’ll be terrible tomorrow. After yesterday I don’t know what to expect. The fans want us to get along, they’ll give us what they have. As a player you try not to think forward but in now. We’ll see what it’s like tomorrow. I look forward to tomorrow but let’s take it day and day.” On whether he thinks it is the ideal supplement in the whole of Bartzokas to take Olympiacos to the top: “I think one of my best is that I can adapt to many styles of play. Bartzokas is one of the best coaches. Olympiacos plays one of the best team basketball, ball movement, player moves but players have freedom. I didn’t want a strict system. I didn’t want a team playing as an NBA team. In Olympiacos I was won by the people, the story and the team. If you see the team in previous years they were always grouped, they don’t celebrate furiously and I think that suits me.” Whether Fournier likes chess: “I don’t like it, I don’t play”. About whether his ability to score will help him in many ways: “When we say it’s harder to score in Europe, it’s about style, rules, defenses, the smaller stadium. In the NBA there are better athletes but if you pass your player, you’ll score. In Europe there are then 2-3 players. Aggressively all I can’t do is post, but the rest I’ve been working hard on my whole life. I’ll play as I know, but I’ll adapt to what the team needs. I will help as I know.” About the first things Fal told him when he signed and if he has contacts with Lesor: “He was happy Fal, I told him 2-3 days before we finally agreed, I told him we’d play together. So he wasn’t surprised, but when he sent him what happened, he told me to go win the Euroleague. About Lesor, a few months ago there were rumors about me and Lesor at my practice said that when I went to Panathinaikos, we had fun, we won, don’t come, stay in the NBA. I have a terrible relationship with Lesor, we were roommates, I told him I was coming and it’s all good.” On whether he imagined the reception he had: “No, I had no idea. I knew they would be excited but not” Olympiacos closed one of the top rosters of all time with Fournier.