Rudy Gobert has called out the New York Knicks for the franchise’s disrespectful treatment of guard Evan Fournier.
Fournier had a great shooting night in the Knicks preseason game against the Timberwolves on Saturday night and recorded 15 points in 19 minutes, as well as four rebounds in the loss.
Fournier’s French national teammate and Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert can’t understand why someone with his talent is coming off the bench.
“He’s the best shooter on the team,” Gobert told The Post.” He’s the best shooter on the Knicks. In terms of pure 3-point shooting, I think he’s the best.
“I think he can contribute and help a lot of teams. I think everybody knows it. But it’s kind of weird when you end up on the bench and you don’t really know why. Sometimes you can be stuck in a situation — I know he’s going to have an opportunity again, and everybody will understand that he can help and win. And do it at a high level. And do it every night.”
The 30-year-old was taken out of NY’s regular rotation last season and was expecting to be traded.
There was also a reported breakdown in communication between him and head coach Tom Thibodeau, which has improved somewhat.
“It’s unfortunate that it feels disrespectful. When things go that way and communication is not where he’d like it to be with his coach. But I think it’s better now — hopefully,” said Gobert. “And he looked great [Saturday night]. I know it’s going to be all right. And if it’s not here, it’s somewhere else. So if they don’t value him, I know there’s a lot of other teams that would take him on. And I know he’s a winner. He’s a great teammate. He keeps putting in the work. And I know he always will. Good things will happen.”
Fournier himself told a French radio station in September that wanted to leave, but beyond that wants to “have the opportunity to get some playing time back.”
Fournier declared during training camp, “I’m a good player. I can f*king play.”
However, it doesn’t look like he’ll be added to the regular rotation anytime soon.
Despite Fournier’s efforts in preseason, NY have still been outscored by 20 points when he is on the court.
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