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NBA: November’s Most Pleasant Surprises

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 16, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum (3) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum (3) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 18, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) guards Orlando Magic forward Evan Fournier (10) who watches the final seconds tick off of the clock during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 104-101 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) guards Orlando Magic forward Evan Fournier (10) who watches the final seconds tick off of the clock during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 104-101 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 23

Experience: 4th Season

Slash Line: .446/.390/.796

Season Averages: 34.6 MPG, 17.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.3 3PM

The 9-8 Orlando Magic have a vaunted cast of young perimeter players. Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo were labeled as rising stars and first-time All-Star candidates entering 2015-16, Elfrid Payton had a very strong rookie season in 2014-15, and Mario Hezonja was a Top 5 pick this past June.

During the month of November, however, it was Evan Fournier who stole headlines in Orlando.

Fournier is averaging a team-high 17.2 points with an efficient slash line and a well-rounded offensive attack. The 23-year-old may not have the reputation of a star, but it’s known throughout the NBA that he can flat out score.

The question has been whether or not he can do so with consistency.

Fournier has a long way to go before his short-term rise can be legitimized as a sign of things to come. He’s shown flashes of this in the past, however, and some have hypothesized that it’s only a matter of time before he breaks out.

If that process is in bloom, then November was an excellent starting point.

Next: Back and Better Than Ever