Fournier: ''The World Cup will be my launchpad''

PARIS (France) - A determined Evan Fournier views the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as his "launchpad" following a disappointing end to FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and a frustrating season with the New York Knicks.

After averaging more than 27 minutes per game for the Knicks in 2020-21 when he made 241 three-pointers - fourth most in the league while shooting 38.9 percent from deep - Fournier averaged just 17 minutes per game this season and made a mere 35 three-pointers.

"I WANT TO LIVE INTENSE MOMENTS, FEEL LIKE MYSELF AGAIN…THIS WORLD CUP WILL BE MY LAUNCHPAD"

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau benched the Frenchman in mid-February, offering no explanation. Fournier ultimately played in just 27 games.

Fournier says playing for the French national team at the World Cup will get him back on track.

"I am impatient to play again, excited to come back to this team, the atmosphere, our headquarters in Pau, the practices, fighting for a goal," he said to L'Equipe. "This season, for the first time, I had no goal and it felt strange.

"I want to live intense moments, feel like myself again. The French national team is important in my career.

"This World Cup will be my launchpad."

At the EuroBasket last summer, one of Fournier's best games came in the Group Phase against Lithuania.

Fournier and France were solid at the EuroBasket, but not spectacular.

One reason was the absence of Nando de Colo and Nic Batum.

France will have both at the World Cup, which helps make them one of the most talented and experienced teams in international basketball at the event that is being staged in Manila, Okinawa and Jakarta.

At the Tokyo Olympics, France beat the USA on opening day and then pushed the Americans hard for 40 minutes in the Gold Medal Game before falling, 87-82.

Even while France, at the EuroBasket, reached the Final, it was a disappointing tournament.

In the Final, they faced a Spain team that was supposed to be less potent than previous summers yet the French fell behind early and never mounted a serious challenge, losing 88-76.

Spain have won most of their games against France during Fournier's time in the national team.

"Everybody said this was the strongest EuroBasket of all time but... I don't know," he said. "We lost the Final. I was disgusted, sickened. Nothing has changed. I'm disappointed."

Fournier wasn't happy with how he played, even though he led France in scoring at 15.3 points per game.

Fournier and France beat USA at the 2019 World Cup and then in the opening game of the Tokyo Olympics (above)

"Compared to the Olympic Games in 2021 and the 2019 World Cup, I did not play as well," he said. "I was less dominant. I was still the best scorer in a team going to the Final so I cannot say I had a bad Euro.

"I was targeted more by the defenses. In the Final, I was double-teamed all the time. I love Andrew (Albicy) and Terry (Tarpey), and I can even add Rudy (Gobert) but those three do not represent a threat on offense. The years before, I could be forgotten, leave Nando (De Colo) and Nico (Batum) to create the offense and be the finisher."

The World Cup is a chance for Fournier to rediscover his best form and proved to the Knicks and the rest of the world that he is back.

He has another aim that is equally important.

"To win it, like every year with the national team," he said.

FIBA