French Connection: Knicks' Evan Fournier Returns to France's World Cup Roster

Soon-to-be-former New York Knick Evan Fournier will be looking to help France medal again at the FIBA World Cup, which will include a matchup with RJ Barrett.

Even if his New York Knicks career is truly over, Evan Fournier will wear blue one more time on the hardwood.

Fournier was officially confirmed to be part of his native France's effort at the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia, which tips off on Aug. 25. The Knicks' shooter is one of four current NBA representatives on the roster, joining former New Yorker Frank Ntilikina (Dallas) as well as Nicolas Batum (LA Clippers) and Rudy Gobert (Minnesota).

The 30-year-old Fournier has partaken in each of the last two French World Cup showings, which both produced bronze medal finishes. Last summer, Fournier served as the captain for the team's runner-up finish in the FIBA EuroBasket competition before embarking upon his second season with the Knicks. 

Fournier's more recent NBA affairs have him on one of the next flights out of New York: after starting the year as the Knicks' primary shooting guard, he lost the role to Quentin Grimes and wound up playing only 27 games (none in the postseason). Due over $18 million guaranteed next season, Fournier has been a popular inclusion in hypothetical Knicks trades, especially after he himself admitted that there was "no way" the team would invite him back for 2023-24. 

France is set to partake in Group H of World Cup play in Indonesia. Their first game on Aug. 25 will present a metropolitan homecoming, as Fournier and Les Bleus will take on a Canada group that will potentially include RJ Barrett. Other Group H competition includes Latvia (featuring another former Knick in Kristaps Porzingis) and Lebanon. 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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