Orlando Magic: Grading Evan Fournier’s 2019-20 NBA season
By Luke Duffy
Evan Fournier’s highlights
Fournier didn’t have many standout games throughout the year, which again speaks to the larger problem that the Magic have. If he is not going to have the kind of night that has Twitter talking at least once a month during the regular season, then the ceiling on this version of the roster may already have been reached.
Fournier did average 20.7 points for the month of December though, while also shooting a sizzling 60 percent from 3-point range during that period. He had a season-high 32 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors and followed that up with 31 away to the Washington Wizards a couple of nights later.
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Fournier would crack 30 points on only two more occasions throughout the year, so this little run really was the player at his best. It also led to some important wins against opponents who, although neither of them made the playoffs, still had to be taken care of. Too many times in the last few years have the Magic had abject displays and losing efforts to inferior opponents.
Fournier in his groove is able to feast on these types of teams, and he certainly did. Of those two aforementioned 30 point outings, one came in a loss to the Boston Celtics in which he was the best thing about the Magic on that night. He did everything he could to keep them in that game.
Looking at the bigger picture and the fact that Fournier’s best performances included strong showings from beyond the arc is really important for the franchise. When he can get it going from that range good things usually happen, and it benefits everybody by opening up the court for them all. In a season of few small highlights, that fact is something to be happy about.