The summer basketball cycle in Europe had barely begun when social-media feeds already ignited—all because of a post by Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic addressed to his former teammate Evan Fournier. With trademark sarcasm the Montenegrin felt sorry for Olympiacos supporters, claiming they would have to watch “that idiot” for three more seasons. The joke spread rapidly across the media, reminding everyone that behind every contract lurk genuine emotions and good old Balkan irony.
A Deal That Shook the Market
The French shooting guard himself provided the news hook: Olympiacos extended his agreement through the summer of 2028. According to Greek insiders, Fournier will earn about 2.7 million euros per year—a figure worthy of a EuroLeague star and comparable to the paychecks of top NBA players who returned to the Old Continent. For the red-and-white club from Piraeus this is not merely a financial gesture but a strategic statement: the roster now locks in one of the continent’s most versatile scorers.
Humor With a Balkan Accent
Vucevic reacted instantly. On his X account he tossed out a mocking line: “I feel sorry for Olympiacos fans—they’ll have to watch that idiot for three more seasons.” There was nothing diplomatic about it—this is classic Nikola, who has long teased his friends, especially the old “Magic” buddies. Fans immediately caught the playful tone, and some Greek supporters even engaged in a verbal duel, inviting Vucevic to come to Piraeus and test the “catacomb stands” himself.
Orlando Magic: Shared Memories
The center’s words were no empty bravado. From 2014 to 2021 Vucevic and Fournier shared the Orlando Magic locker room, took the club to the playoffs three times, and remain associated for American fans with those rare seasons when the Magic truly shone. That’s where their friendship-cum-rivalry was born: Nikola patrolled the paint while Evan stretched defenses with long-range looks coming off pindown screens. The chemistry survived even after they split across continents—hence the tough yet brotherly tone of their jokes.
What Olympiacos Gains
For Piraeus itself, the new contract is a sporting jackpot. In his debut Greek season Fournier averaged 16.1 points on 35.8 % three-point shooting in the EuroLeague, dragged the team to the Final Four, and earned a spot on the competition’s Second Team. His arrival diversified the red-and-white attack: the Frenchman switches smoothly between the two and three positions, runs the pick-and-roll as a ball-handler, and never shies away from crunch-time shots. Add Vucevic’s Balkan trash talk—and you have a perfect recipe for sell-outs at the Peace and Friendship Stadium for the next three years.
Meanwhile one of them is posting Acropolis photos while the other polishes his jumper in Chicago, and fans can rejoice: basketball thrives not only on transfer-market intrigue but also on the friendly jabs that make the game more human.
