By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
After seven successful seasons with the Denver Nuggets and one good stint in Boston, Evan Fournier hasn’t lived the best of times with the New York Knicks since joining the team in 2021.
Despite having a career average of 14.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with 44.3% from the field and 37.9% from the arc, with the blue-and-orange franchise his numbers decreased consistently to 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, with 33.7% FG and 30.7% from three, playing only 27 games.
Talking to L’Équipe’s Yann Ohnona, the 30-year-old French shooting guard expressed all his disappointment. “You want to spit on everyone. You have hatred. Derrick Rose and I looked at each other and said to each other: ‘”What the hell are we doing here?” During the five-on-five practice, we were on the side like some prospects. Uncool times. And when I realized that wouldn’t change, I took things more slowly. I focused on myself and didn’t let the rest get to me anymore. I did three cardio sessions, two weight training sessions per week, a lot of travel work, game situations with an assistant coach Daniel Brady”, the former Orlando Magic’s own said.
Discussing his relationship with the head coach Tom Thibodeau, he went straight to the point. “I have nothing to say because I have none. When he took me out of the five, he just told me he was going to try something else. Then at the first match of a road trip, he announced to me that I was leaving the rotation, and ciao”, he said before revealing his probable future. “I would be very surprised to be a Knick next year. They pay me 18 million, they have no interest in keeping me”, Fournier added.
“I would be shot. I’m going to be traded, it’s not possible otherwise. Or I’d be stuck, and so would they. They have several players with big contracts coming in. Unless they want to pay a crazy luxury tax… If I stayed, it would be a disaster basketball-wise for my career. I can manage a year without playing. Two… that would be terrible”, he said about him potentially staying in New York.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
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