By John Denton
Nov. 19, 2015
ORLANDO – The parents who taught Evan Fournier everything that he knows about toughness couldn’t initially be reached last Friday because of the terroristic chaos rampaging throughout Paris, yet the Orlando Magic guard pressed on with the task at hand.
Fournier’s thoughts all throughout last Friday’s first half were on the safety of his parents and the well-being of his native Paris, but you never would have been able to tell it considering the laser-sharp focus that the guard displayed. Whereas most players would have bailed on the game because of family concerns – Magic coach Scott Skiles said it would have been absolutely understandable – Fournier went out and had 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, a steal and a plus-13 on the scoreboard in his 18 minutes on the floor in last Friday’s first half.
No one could blame Fournier for racing into the Magic locker room at halftime and immediately checking his phone. Once there, he read the text messages from his parents telling him that they were safe from the killings, explosions and gunfire that had turned Paris – “The City of Lights” – suddenly and sullenly dark.
Fournier’s focus is a product of what Francois and Meriem Fournier taught him growing up as a child in suburban Paris. Both were world-class judo martial artists and they instilled inside of him a toughness and a competitiveness to fight regardless of what might be swirling around. Those lessons have come in handy of late what with Paris coming under attack and Fournier suffering from a nasty virus that caused his fever to spike to 104 degrees. Still, he’s played some of the best basketball of his life – a stirring stretch capped late Wednesday by his game-winning 3-pointer in overtime of Orlando’s 104-101 defeat of Minnesota.
“When the work ethic that you have comes from both of your parents … shoot, they might be more competitive than I am,” said Fournier, said with a chuckle. “Basically, I owe my parents everything.”
Fournier, 23, is in the midst of a career year in his fourth season in the NBA. Not only has he become Orlando’s leading scorer (19.4 ppg.) and its most consistent player, but he’s averaging career-bests in minutes (38.4), scoring (19.4), rebounds (4.3), assists (2.9), steals (1.3) and free throw shooting (80 percent). Also, because of his rare ability to shoot from afar and finish at the rim, Fournier’s overall shooting percentage (46.5 percent) and his accuracy from 3-point range (39.2 percent) are the second-best marks of his career.
Skiles, who traded texts messages with Fournier late into the night on Wednesday after his gutsy game-winning shot in OT, marvels at how the guard has been able to keep his mind on basketball of late. Skiles is the ultimate “no excuses” coach when it comes to focus and production and he said he would have given Fournier a pass if he had struggled of late considering all that he’s been through.
Not necessary, Skiles said, while shaking his head in amazement.
“He and I texted back and forth last night after the game and it’s really, really impressive considering everything that he’s gone through in the last week,” Skiles said of Fournier, who has scored 21, 18 and 26 points in his last three games. “Just from an emotional standpoint, and then he doesn’t practice at all (because of his illness) and he was coughing all during (Wednesday morning’s) shoot-around. What he’s done is really, really gutsy and impressive.
“Not only stay focused, but play great,” Skiles continued. “It would be very easy if he had struggled the last few games and it would have been very understandable. I would go up and put my arm around him and say, `I totally get it and I can empathize and don’t worry about it.’ Instead, he’s gone the total opposite way and has looked like nothing has happened.”
The ability to stay on track is nothing new to Fournier, who has known since his early teens that he wanted to leave France someday and play basketball in the NBA. And that’s where his upbringing around two strong-minded parents came into play. Both were coaches who taught athletes how to work for what they wanted in life, and even though Evan chose basketball instead of judo, their life lessons carried over to his pursuit of his NBA dreams.
“I was determined that I was going to make it (to the NBA) and that drive, that’s from my parents,”
Fournier said. “They didn’t do it on purpose, but the way that they raised me was all about being competitive. And it wasn’t even all about sports; it was being competitive even with every-day things and taking pride in everything that I did, whether it was homework or basic stuff.
“The mentality that I have now comes from my parents, both of whom were judo fighters and they were very competitive,” he continued. “I’ve seen my dad practice and, trust me, when you are 6 years old and you see that, it stays with you. My dad was a coach who taught the judo fighters and they would be throwing up because they would be so tired from working. And my mom was doing the same thing (in coaching), so I learned it all from their work ethics.”
Not long after burying the 3-pointer from the right wing over the outstretched arms of defensive ace Tayshaun Prince, Fournier checked his phone and saw approximately 30 messages from overjoyed friends and family back in France. Some of Fournier’s best games ever on the basketball court have come during France’s darkest hours. The same, too, can be said for Charlotte Hornets forward, French native and Fournier friend Nicolas Batum, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
With Fournier playing more of a central role on the Magic (6-6), his family has taken to watching Orlando’s game’s live – even with the six-hour time difference between Florida and France. They won’t need to be so sleep-deprived on Saturday when the Magic face the Sacramento Kings at 5 p.m. ET. The early tip-time in Orlando is so that the NBA can televise the game live in primetime to 20 European countries, including France.
It gives Fournier great joy that his recent stellar play on the court has been a sense of pride for his family and a beacon of happiness for a native country that has needed something to smile about these days.
“My whole family is watching the games live now. I tell them, `Get some sleep, it’s late over there.’ But our games are what they live for and they are very excited for me,” Fournier said. “I’m an only child and I’m the whole focus of the family. Basically, I’m proud that I’m making them proud.
“It feels good what I’m doing on the basketball court, but there’s much more important stuff going on back home,” he added. “But I’m guessing (Fournier’s success) brings them joy – at least the people who know me, it does. So that makes me feel great.”
