Coming into the season, Evan Fournier was expected to be the backup shooting guard for the Orlando Magic behind former Indiana star Victor Oladipo. Unexpectedly, he stole the starting job, has started all 38 games for the Magic so far this season and has been one of the NBA‘s most surprising talents.
After spending two seasons with the Denver Nuggets as a role player, Fournier was traded to Orlando so Arron Afflalo could return to Denver. Fournier came over to add another player to the young core of a rebuilding team, but he was never supposed to be the star he has become.
Fournier has averaged career highs in nearly all categories, including 13.8 points per game, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. It is safe to say that even though he was supposed to be a big part of the Magic’s bench as they attempt to make a playoff run for the first time since the Dwight Howard era ended in 2012, Fournier has gone above an beyond all that was expected of him.
Such a great season may be due to Fournier being in a contract year, set to become a free agent at the season’s conclusion. Not only will he get a contract extension or a deal, but based off his performance, a team may be confident enough to give Fournier enough money to be one of their top options if he were to leave Orlando.
The French guard has his team currently holding onto the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, a position that many around the league thought was possible, but something that was no guarantee. Orlando is still young, and if Fournier can continue to improve, both he and the team possess very bright futures.
