ATHENS (Greece) - Look back at Evan Fournier's time with France in basketball, even to his days with the youth national teams, and one sees that the competitive juices always flow for the veteran.
In nine out of the 11 events, his team waged battles when a title or a spot on the podium was at stake and more times than not, Fournier had a key role with Les Bleus.
It's why the 2.00m (6ft 7in) marksman, who spent 12 seasons in the NBA, craves the opportunity to don his national team shirt.
"What I love are the big tournaments, where the stakes bring out a part of me I never show outside competition," he said to L'Equipe last week.
"I love that rush — it feels like I'm at my best. That’s where I feel most like myself — in that bubble, that zone. It's almost spiritual. That's what I love about summer with the French team. You can't live that kind of intensity all season. But when you get close to the ultimate prize, that's when I feel most alive."
Fournier was in the France team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Madrid that upset Spain in the Quarter-Finals, and in the side at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 in Lille that suffered defeat to the Spaniards after overtime in a Semi-Final thriller.
At the 2019 World Cup in China, Fournier led France in scoring at 19.8 points per game and had a team-high 22 points in their 89-79 victory over USA in the Quarter-Finals.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Fournier was France's leading scorer at 18.7 points per game. He poured in 28 points in their tournament opening 83-76 victory over the USA, while in the 87-82 Gold Medal Game defeat to the Americans, he had 16.
At EuroBasket 2022, he had 23 points in the Final but France fell to Spain. Fournier also featured at last summer's Olympics in Paris and had a crucial 15 points in his team's Quarter-Final triumph over Canada. The French then beat Germany before falling to USA in the battle for gold.
Fournier lives for those pulsating moments, but concedes that heartache has accompanied them since France have not reached the top of the podium in his time.
"In Tokyo, in 2021, I really believed. We were flying
"I don’t have nightmares about it, but… I think about it," he said answering about the fact that he's still waiting to win a major trophy. "Especially when it comes to the EuroBasket — a competition that means more because we've played it since we were kids. Losing the final in Berlin (2022), the semifinal in Lille in 2015 (both times against Spain)... I think about those."
So when did Fournier feel like France were on the cusp of winning something big?
"In Tokyo, in 2021," he said. "I really believed it. We were flying. I was just talking about it with Moussa (Fall, Olympiacos teammate). It was incredible."
Fournier made the All-Star Five at the 2019 World Cup yet still has an empty feeling about that tournament, even with the team's win over USA and Third-Place Game triumph over Australia.
After a hard, grueling event, Fournier took a deep breath and felt a sense of relief that that job was finished.
However, he said: "A few moments later waiting in the hallway for the medal ceremony, I thought: we missed out on something big. The medal disgusted me. I already had a bronze (2014 World Cup). I didn't want this one. I physically couldn't put it around my neck. I gave it to my father ... They’re (parents) very proud. And I'm at peace with it."
EuroBasket 2025? I hope and believe I'll be there
Fournier still has big games to play for Olympiacos in the 2024-25 season and he also has the possibility of representing France at EuroBasket 2025. An automatic selection under long-time coach Vincent Collet, Fournier now has to wait on the call from new coach Frederic Fauthoux.
"I've been struggling with my ankle for a while, but if everything goes well, I hope — and believe — I'll be there," he said.
Who knows if Fournier would even be contemplating playing for France again had they been able to capture gold last summer.
"I can't say for sure," he said, "but it’s something that keeps me going."
FIBA