July 12, 2016. To everyone’s surprise, Vincent Collet announces that he is not taking Evan Fournier to the Rio Olympics. At the time, France went through a pre-Olympic tournament in Manila to win their ticket, and Rudy Gobert, like Evan Fournier, are absent for contractual reasons: they are “free agents”. The “free agency” begins in the NBA, the current rear of the Knicks prolongs illico for 85 million dollars with the Magic, and he announces that he will be in Rio.
Except that Vincent Collet does not select it…
« It’s the mistake of my career “Recognizes the coach of the Blues in L’Equipe. ” I did it in my soul and conscience at the time. People don’t imagine how much we rack our brains before such a decision. But it was bullshit, even more when we see how Tony had come back to us (note: present in Manila, TP had left the group to attend the birth of his second child). Unfortunately, I can apologize, but that won’t change anything. Evan could have weighed in Rio. If we had taken him, it would have been in Charles Kahudi’s place. We preserved those who had obtained the qualification in Manila at the TQO. But there was no photo, no reason. But it’s easy to say after… »
“I didn’t project myself, I was in a rage…”
At the time, Evan Fournier did not take off. He feels betrayed. He finds it unfair. ” It was one of the hardest things of my career “He recognizes, to the point of considering never returning to selection. ” I thought about it. I did not project myself, I had rage and I did not want to hear any more about the Blues. It was too lively. I finished my season and I left with my wife in a national park in Utah, without a phone, without anything. »
There, he realizes that it is not a question of a personal sanction and it is he who takes the first step towards his coach. They reconcile, and today Evan Fournier is the captain of the French team. An attack leader, but also a locker room leader, as the last episode of All-Access proved.
To read: the cross interview of Vincent Collet and Evan Fournier
