New York Knicks' Evan Fournier 'Just Trying to Help,' Perplexed By Injury

Evan Fournier's first minutes of the New York Knicks' season ended on the injury report.

Evan Fournier's third season with the New York Knicks has been maudit.

With injuries eating away at the Knicks' backcourt, Fournier was finally bestowed his first minutes of the 2023-24 NBA season on Friday night. Granted entry into the Knicks' 120-99 win over the Washington Wizards, the French-born veteran played 16 minutes, shooting 1-of-6 from the floor (including 0-of-4 from three-point range) and earning an assist, rebound, and steal each. 

New York (8-5) was plus-6 on the scoreboard when Fournier was on the floor, the second-best among Knicks reserves behind Immanuel Quickley. 

Fournier (13) dribbles during the Knicks' preseason tilt vs Minnesota / USA TODAY SPORTS

“I felt a little out of rhythm. I haven’t played obviously all year. I guess that was to be expected,” Fournier said in the aftermath, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “I don’t know, I was just trying to help somehow.”

True to the apparently cursed nature of Fournier's New York tenure, Fournier was on the injury report for the Knicks' Saturday staging in Charlotte, listed as out due to ankle inflammation. According to Bondy's report, the ankle in question was adorned in a boot over the rest of the working weekend.

Like many aspects of Fournier's time with the Knicks, the details behind the injury are shrouded in mystery.

“Honestly, I have no clue,” Fournier told The Post when asked about the origin of the injury. "It was frustrating because it hurts. There’s not much to say, to be honest. It sucks. That’s it.”

Knicks, Evan Fournier Civil War Has No Winner, Even With Inevitable Trade

Fournier and his $18.9 million cap hit have been out of the Knicks' primary rotation for just about a year now and he appears to have accepted his fate as another bench body while the Knicks attempt to build upon last year's success. While there have been opportunities to empty the bench (the Knicks are 6-1 in games decided by 10 points or more this season), Fournier hadn't been asked to move until both RJ Barrett (migraine) and Quentin Grimes (wrist) sat out of Friday's win. 

Time will tell if the Knicks play the stretch out with Fournier (whose contract holds a $19 million team option for the 2024-25 season) or continue to seek a trade for him. The 31-year-old is officially listed as questionable for Monday's game in Minnesota, the conclusion of a five-game New York road trip (8 p.m. ET, MSG).