"Tanking, it's real": Evan Fournier weighs in on "one of the dark sides of the NBA"

After 12 years in the NBA, French guard Evan Fournier has made his move to EuroLeague club Olympiacos, signing a two-year contract worth over $4 million. In a recent interview, he opened up about the “dark side” of the NBA and shared his reasons for leaving the league.

Evan Fournier, who was drafted 20th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2012 NBA Draft, left the league with extensive experience, having played 29 games for the Detroit Pistons during his final stint.

In an interview with EuroHoops, Fournier highlighted some of the league's darker aspects, particularly the issue of tanking.

"One of the dark sides of the NBA is when teams are losing on purpose to get higher draft picks. Tanking...it's real," he said.

Throughout his 12 seasons in the league, he only experienced playoff action in four seasons, and during his later years with the New York Knicks, he was a "DNP" in the playoffs.

In his final season, he was traded from the Knicks to the Pistons, who ended the year with a dismal 14-68 record.

"My last two months in Detroit, the organization was great, but it was a young team that wasn't necessarily trying to win. And when you're my age, it's hard to go through that," Fournier said.

Despite their last-place finish, the Pistons only secured the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, which they used to select Ron Holland II, who posted averages of 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals for the G League Ignite.

The NBA has taken steps to address the controversial practice of "tanking," where teams deliberately lose games to improve their chances for higher draft picks.

A key reform was made in 2019 to the NBA Draft Lottery system. Previously, the team with the worst record had a 25% chance of obtaining the first overall pick.

Under the new system, the three teams with the worst records now each have an equal 14% chance, reducing the likelihood that a single team can dramatically enhance its draft odds through intentional losses.

Additionally, the NBA has increased penalties for teams caught tanking. In 2023, the Dallas Mavericks were fined $750,000 for resting key players during a crucial game.

Moreover, the NBA introduced the In-Season Tournament in 2023 to incentivize competitive play midseason, offering a $500,000 prize for each player on the winning team.

Evan Fournier discusses his transition to the EuroLeague

Reflecting on his choice to leave the NBA, Evan Fournier described it as a matter of destiny.

“It’s like every planet has aligned for me to come here,” Fournier said.

“Sometimes there’s things you can’t explain. It’s like when you find your wife – you can’t explain. I’ve always looked at Olympiacos like a club that means something to me. I don’t know why."

Evan Fournier, now 32, averages 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in the NBA.

He recently steered France to the silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.