New York Knicks: 3 Reasons why fans should be excited for Evan Fournier

New York Knicks: Evan Fournier’s Olympic momentum

Fournier is unquestionably a talented player. He is also riding a wave of positive momentum that will carry him into his first season in blue and orange.

The Frenchman’s 2020-2021 NBA season ended on a bit of a down note. It seemed clear that he had found a situation with the Orlando Magic that he had grown quite comfortable with. Fournier enjoyed seven of the best seasons of his career with the Magic. He was also in the midst of a career-best year in terms of point (19.7 per game) and assist (3.7) production.

Then, the news broke. The veteran had been shipped to the Boston Celtics in a midseason trade. Boston hoped that Fournier’s aforementioned shot-making abilities would boost their sub-par second unit. Unfortunately for them, this dream never materialized.

The change in scenery caused Founier to pivot from his best career numbers to some of his worst. His point per game average plummeted to 13. His other statistics followed suit. While Fournier’s shot attempts did drop by nearly four per game, he played nearly the same number of minutes. It seemed the forward would enter free agency on a low note.

Then, the Olympic games began. This changed Fournier’s momentum drastically. The French star had the opportunity to suit up for his national team alongside fellow NBA stars Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and new Knicks teammate Frank Ntilikina.

Like many athletes, Fournier shifted into a different gear while wearing his home colors. The vet is currently leading his talented squad with 18.3 points per contest. He has been the chief source of scoring for a French team that finds themselves in a prime position to add a medal.

The international star has shown the world that he is capable of carrying the scoring load on a productive team. Knicks fans should be thrilled to employ Fournier on the heels of some of the best basketball he has ever played.