Evan Fournier responds to critics: 'I'm in my best years, literally' / News - Basketnews.com

Fournier said he was hoping for a trade and was satisfied to leave New York despite having numerous memorable moments in the city. Now with the Detroit Pistons, Fournier feels like himself again but doesn't feel any animosity toward the Knicks for disagreements in the past.

Credit: ELSA/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix Credit ELSA/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix

Evan Fournier had openly criticized the New York Knicks before his departure from the club. Now, at Detroit Pistons, the French guard wants to write a new page.

Evan Fournier

MIN:18.09PTS:8.13 (45.45%)REB:2.38As:0.88ST:1.25BL:0.13TO:1.13GM:8ProfileNBA2023/2024

After barely playing for two seasons, Fournier is now a member of the Pistons rotation, averaging 21 minutes per game on his new team.

"Bro, I'm 31, not 40. I'm in my best years, literally," Fournier told Kristian Winfield from New York Daily News.

"I was hoping for a trade, and it happened, so it worked out," the player admitted.

Fournier was included in the trade centered around Bojan Bogdanovic. The Knicks also received Alec Burks, while Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn,Evan Fournier,Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks went to New York alongside Fournier.

Remembering the moment he got traded, Fournier said he had no idea he was shipped from the Knicks.

"I had no idea. I was actually in the steam room, and Josh [Hart] came in storming, like 'Yo Ev!' That's how it happened," Fournier said.

Fournier played against his former team last night, a team that had previously reduced his role to just occasional one-off performances every once in a while. He scored 7 points in 20 minutes of playing time.

Despite all the animosity between the two sides, Fournier didn't feel any different playing against the Knicks.

"I want to play well. At this point in my career, I truly don't care [if I'm playing my former team]. I feel like I'm being myself again. Help these young guys and grow. I actually never felt like that (having bad feelings toward a former team)," Fournier shared. "I remember my first year when I was playing well against Boston, I never really cared, to be honest."

"It was obviously one of the hardest times in my career, but as a person, it was probably my best time," he said about the stage in New York. "My second son was born here. We always wanted to live in New York, my wife and I, and we did. We had the time of our life in the city. Playing at MSG every night was a privilege. And there's moments that you'll always cherish: that first game against Boston was special. Breaking the franchise record was special. I had really high moments that I will never forget."

Asked one last time about why things didn't work out in New York, Fourner didn't want to look back.

"I don't know, and I don't really care for it if I'm being honest. You should ask Thibs (head coach Tom Thibodeau) that," he concluded.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.