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Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic begin preparations for Eurobasket

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Wesley Matthews #23 of the Dallas Mavericks guards Nikola Vucevic #9 and Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 19, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Manuela Davies/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Wesley Matthews #23 of the Dallas Mavericks guards Nikola Vucevic #9 and Evan Fournier #10 of the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 19, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Manuela Davies/Getty Images) /
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Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic have begun preparations for Eurobasket as the basketball world prepares for the big international tournament this month.

NBA basketball is officially on hiatus until the regular season begins. The NBA schedule is set to come out soon — the league has already released part of the schedule. Otherwise, there is not much going on around the league.

Players, for the most part, are working on their own or on vacation. There is no competitive basketball outside of the various summer leagues that look more like glorified pro-ams when NBA players show up.

What will basketball fans do until training camps open in late September and the regular season begins Oct. 17 (at least that comes two weeks early)?

The good news is there is one more big basketball tournament before the season begins. Some high-level basketball with plenty of stars and prospects to watch.

Eurobasket is one of the biggest international tournaments in the world, pitting the top teams from FIBA Europe. It is a tournament that carries a lot of importance. Not just for qualification to the FIBA World Cup (now taking place in 2019) but for national pride.

Games at Eurobasket take on a NCAA Tournament-like feel too. They are impassioned games and some of the best FIBA basketball around. This is a tournament every hardcore NBA fans look forward to every other year.

Mario Hezonja is officially out for Eurobasket for Croatia. But Evan Fournier (France) and Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro) are getting themselves set for this big tournament.

Eurobasket begins August 31 with games taking place in four countries before the final round in Istanbul, Turkey on Sept. 16.

International friendlies and warm up games are already well under way. The teams are getting ready for the big tournament.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

For Fournier and France, this is a year of transition. The team is without Tony Parker and Mikael Gelabale, both retired from international play. And Rudy Gobert and Nicolas Batum are not on this year’s roster either. That puts Fournier squarely in the crosshairs as one of the key players for France.

France is not a favorite to win the tournament. But they are still one of the powers in the region. There is always the expectation they will compete for a medal. Even with their roster a little bit depleted.

Fournier has played in two games already for France and has performed well. He scored 24 points in 25 minutes against Croatia earlier this week, making four of his five 3-pointers. He followed that up scoring 17 points in 25 minutes in a win over Lithuania. He also added six assists and four steals in the game.

It has been a good early run for Fournier so far. Nando De Colo runs the majority of the plays as the point guard. But Fournier has so far shown good patience in the pick and roll and strong scoring ability. Fournier is the player we all remember — both the good and the bad. But these are friendlies, so there is some experimentation and holding back going on.

France opens Eurobasket against Finland in Helsinki, Finland on Aug. 31.

Vucevic’s trip to Eurobasket is a bit more special.

Montenegro has not qualified for Eurobasket since 2013 and it has been a long journey to get back. Vucevic played in Eurobasket qualifying games last summer just to get the small nation into the tournament. Vucevic has not always had the best relationship with his national team, but a coaching change has washed all that away.

Montenegro started their preparations for Eurobasket on Friday against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece. Vucevic scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Montenegro’s 83-81 loss.

That is an encouraging result for Montenegro. No one expects Montenegro to advance out of the group stage — they begin Eurobasket against Spain on Sept. 1 in Romania. Greece, on the other hand, is one of the medal favorites.

Friendlies in international play can be a bit of a cloak-and-dagger game. Coaches do not like to show all their cards in these exhibition games. It is a different mentality than the United States for sure — they just all-out blitz teams usually.

Eurobasket is coming right around the corner. And the Magic’s two participants will meet each other on the court beforehand.

France and Montenegro are scheduled to play each other Aug. 19 in Toulouse. That is a date many Magic fans will certainly circle. At least to see two of their key players on the floor at the same time.

Next: Orlando Magic set to open 2018 season against Miami Heat

Not to mention see who gets the locker room bragging rights.