New York Knicks‘ swingman Evan Fournier is back in Orlando, where he spent his last six-and-a-half seasons in the NBA before he was traded in February.
It was a little surreal for him to enter the Amway Center and proceed to the visitor’s locker room area just for the second time since the trade that sent him to Boston.
Last May, Fournier scored 18 points in his return to Orlando helping the Celtics beat his former team Magic, 132-96.
“It’s a little different for sure. Like last night, you know, in the back of my mind, I was like my house is used to be 15 minutes away [from here]. So I could just go home and do stuff,” Fournier said after the Knicks’ Friday morning shootaround.
“It’s not my life anymore,” he said. “I’ve changed teams. I have a new house, but you know, I had a great time here, and I definitely won’t forget it.”
Fournier’s life on and off the court has changed dramatically in the past seven months bouncing from Orlando to Boston and now New York.
The Frenchman bucket-getter has already endeared himself to the Knicks fanbase just one game into the new season.
Last fall, he could still ride New York’s subway unnoticed. But after a scintillating debut on Wednesday night at the Garden, Fournier won’t be able to even walk around the city without people recognizing him.
‘Google Fournier’ is now vogue after his career-high-tying 32-point performance, which fueled the Knicks’ epic double-overtime win against his former team Boston Celtics.
Yes, he’s the new Knicks swingman and the new crowd’s darling.
And after long wanting to play for the Knicks in the most famous arena, Fournier’s expectation matches reality.
Following his heroic performance on opening night, he re-tweeted the now-viral, expletive-filled Knicks’ fans postgame celebration outside the Madison Square Garden with a caption that said, “What did I get myself into? (laughing emojis).”
“I was laughing my ass off,” Fournier said, referring to the video. “I thought it was hilarious. They’re crazy, but they’re passionate, and you know, as players, that’s what you want. You want a fanbase that’s really pushing you. Like I said in the postgame, the energy that they gave us against the Celtics was a big reason why we won the game.”
Fournier is getting more than what he expected. And after being on the other side — getting boos and jeers from the Knicks fans even in their home games in Orlando — for so long, he’s looking forward to experiencing the Knicks’ fandom on the road.
Fournier hated that feeling where visiting teams’ fans invaded the Amway Center in their home games when he was still a Magic.
“There are a lot of Miami, Boston, New York, and a little bit of [San Antonio] Spurs fans, and it’s a horrible feeling. So now that I’m on the other side, I’m looking forward to it hundred percent,” Fournier said.
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