ORLANDO – Nikola Vucevic first saw it late in the summer when his country’s national team, Montenegro, faced France in an exhibition game. Then, Vucevic got further confirmation of his initial inkling during FIBA World Cup play in China.
What Vucevic knew, maybe before anyone else in the NBA or even anyone affiliated with the Orlando Magic did, was that the confident, efficient Evan Fournier was back. Whatever it was that was troubling the 6-foot-7 shooting guard last season – and leading to some uncharacteristically poor shooting – had disappeared and a swaggering Fournier was poised for a big 2019-20 season in Orlando.