Evan Fournier feels like he's being 'held hostage' in New York
The veteran guard went from expecting a change of address to merely hoping for one, even suggesting he felt like was being “held hostage,” Fournier said in an interview with French radio station RTL. “I’m still in New York at the moment,” Fournier said. “I want to leave. But beyond leaving, I want to have the opportunity to get some playing time back. That’s all. That’s mostly it. Because in New York, I feel extremely good. I love living there, I love the franchise, I love playing at Madison [Square Garden], I love the guys on the team. “So I just want to play, that’s all. It’s true that finding another club, changing franchises, if that’s what you have to do to play again, that’s what I would like to do.”
Source: Zach Braziller @ New York Post
Source: Zach Braziller @ New York Post
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From Evan Fournier in a more recent interview — seemed more resigned to remaining with the Knicks. At least in the short term. But that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly happy about the situation.
More than anything, he wants a chance to play.
nydailynews.com/2023/09/27/eva… – 10:47 AM
From Evan Fournier in a more recent interview — seemed more resigned to remaining with the Knicks. At least in the short term. But that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly happy about the situation.
More than anything, he wants a chance to play.
nydailynews.com/2023/09/27/eva… – 10:47 AM
More on this storyline
As training camp drew closer, Evan Fournier seemed more resigned to remaining with the Knicks. At least in the short term. But that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly happy about the situation. “I’m still in New York at the moment,” Fournier said in an interview earlier this month with RTL, a French radio station. “I want to leave. But beyond leaving, I want to have the opportunity to get some playing time back. That’s all. That’s mostly it. Because in New York, I feel extremely good. I love living there, I love the franchise, I love playing at Madison [Square Garden], I love the guys on the team. “So I just want to play, that’s all. It’s true that finding another club, changing franchises, if that’s what you have to do to play again, that’s what I would like to do.” -via New York Daily News / September 27, 2023
But after his French national team was shockingly bounced in the group stage of the FIBA World Cup, Fournier was still with the Knicks and reminding his RTL interviewers that training camp begins Oct. 3. “Still no change yet, that’s how it is,” Fournier said. “As an NBA player, we don’t really have control over our situation. I’m going to do as usual. Despite my season on the bench, that didn’t stop me from feeling good and really in shape. I have one year left on my contract. I just want to find pleasure again. What frustrates me is not being able to control things.” -via New York Daily News / September 27, 2023
Part of the holdup is the value in Fournier’s $18.9 million expiring contract as a means to match salaries for a star-type player. The Knicks haven’t found a deal that suits their criteria for unloading the sharpshooter. But that’s no consolation to Fournier, who appeared in just 14 games after being removed from the rotation in November. “If I knew, for example, that the coach was going to give me 10-15 minutes here and there, I know that I could make the most of it and grab minutes gradually and perform well,” Fournier told RTL. “But that’s not even the case. I don’t have the opportunity to play and even worse, I feel like I’m being held hostage. I hope this situation will resolve itself and I especially hope that the Knicks will give me a chance.” -via New York Daily News / September 27, 2023