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By John DentonOct. 24, 2014
ORLANDO – Much like with the way he splits double-team traps in the middle of the floor, Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier saw an opening, made a quick decision and was delighted with the result.
Just minutes after answering questions from approximately 40 University of Central Florida students majoring in French, Fournier was asked which task would be more daunting for him: Having the ball in his hands at the end of a tight basketball game or instead speaking English to a large group of people?
For Fournier, a native of suburban Paris, France, and still a somewhat skittish English speaker, the answer was a simple one.
``Definitely, it would be speaking English in front of a crowd,’’ Fournier said of having to potentially address a large group of English-only speakers. So it’s French anytime and every time? ``Hell yes,’’ Fournier said with a playful smile.
Fournier was in his element earlier this week when he and Magic standout center Nikola Vucevic participated in an informal question-and-answer session with French students from UCF. For more than an hour, Fournier and Vucevic fielded questions about their adjustments to life in the United States, the dedication that it took to become professional basketball players and their fast friendship because of their abilities to speak French on the court and in the Magic locker room.
Vucevic, 23, learned French after being born in Switzerland and living in Belgium for a period while his father was a professional basketball player. Vucevic considers Montenegro as his home country, but he still speaks English, French and Serbian fluently. He said he greatly enjoyed speaking French with the students and serving as a role model to those who look up to him.
``It was a chance for them to speak in French and we got to answer them in French, so it was a lot of fun,’’ said Vucevic, Orlando’s most dominant and consistent player this preseason. ``It felt like I was back in school, but I was actually the teacher a little bit. It was different, but fun.
``When I was growing up I looked up to a lot of different players. I looked up a lot to my dad because he was playing. But there were a lot of players, when I was growing up, who I wanted to be like and I wanted to be able to do what they do, signing autographs, taking pictures and walking around and having people come up and tell me they like what I do,’’ Vucevic said. ``Me being only 23 and that’s happening to me now, it’s something that I really appreciate. It makes me happy that I’m able to do what I love and people recognize my effort and what I do every day.’’
UCF French instructors, including Elizabeth Giltner, had students of all language levels ready questions in French and prepare themselves for conversations with the NBA players. The instructors plan to use video and audio clips of the question-and-answer session as a teaching tool with her classes in the future.
``We’re reconnaissants – as we would say in French – or very appreciative. We had the opportunity to have the Magic players come and talk to our students and to give them an opportunity to use French outside of the classroom, which can be quite rare,’’ Giltner said. ``So this was fantastic - that the players could let the students ask questions and put themselves out there with the language. … For our students to recognize and use the French that they’ve learned here and elsewhere, it’s fantastic. For the Magic players to give them that inspiration to reach that next level, it’s just wonderful.’’
One of the students who took inspiration from the question-and-answer session with Fournier and Vucevic was Pierce Collins, a UCF junior from Orlando who is majoring in French. Collins came to the class wearing a French soccer shirt and he showed off his language skills by peppering the players with questions in French. He said Fournier instantly became his favorite Magic player because of the guard’s willingness to take time out of his schedule to talk to the UCF students.
``As an athlete and a French student, this is probably the greatest thing that I ever could have had (in school),’’ Collins said. ``I’ve been a fan of basketball for a very long time and to have the chance to meet both professional athletes and guys who also speak French, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. … I’m currently majoring in French, but clearly they gave me a lot of motivation to continue improving my language skills.’’
Vucevic, Orlando’s leading scorer this season, is an above-average passer for a 7-foot, 250-pound center, but his biggest assist of the season might be how he’s helped Fournier adjust to his new team. The Magic have scouted Fournier – who has played professionally in France since he was 16 years old – for years and they jumped at the chance to trade for him last June when Denver made him available.
Just prior to becoming the 20th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Fournier took English lessons so that he could communicate with his mostly American coaches and players. Fournier, who speaks fluent English and easily understands instructions from his Magic coaches, said it’s been comforting for him to have another player on the team with whom he can speak French – even if teammates occasionally give them a hard time.
``Guys tell us all of the time, `Yo, speak English.’ But it’s hard because I’m French, I speak French and Nik does, too,’’ said Fournier, a combo guard who has averaged has averaged 8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals this preseason for the Magic. ``It’s like if you go to Italy and carry a person with you who speaks English, you’re not speaking Italian because (English) is your native language. Nik helps me a lot and I’m just really glad that he’s here with me.’’
Added Vucevic: ``Whenever we speak, it’s in French. It would just be weird for us to speak in English because French is more natural to us. Guys are always like, `Why can’t you just speak English?’ But let’s say if Kyle (O’Quinn) went to France and he took Mo (Harkless) with him, he wouldn’t speak French to him; he would speak English. (French) is just more natural to us.’’
At the end of the session, Giltner led the students in a rendition of ``Happy Birthday’’ or ``Joyeux Anniversaire’’ in French to the two Magic players. Vucevic will turn 24 years old on Friday, while Fournier will be 22 next Wednesday.
``Allez, Magic,’’ Giltner said, referring to the phrase, ``Go Magic’’ in French.