Evan Fournier is starting to find the time long…

Evan Fournier glimpsed the hope of returning to the field on Tuesday evening when RJ Barrett left after two minutes, touched on the finger and while Jalen Brunson was already missing. But Tom Thibodeau stuck to a nine-player rotation, simply integrating the returning Derrick Rose.

No Evan Fournier or Cam Reddish on the other hand, but record playing times for the others, like Miles McBride (46 minutes), Quentin Grimes (48 minutes) or Immanuel Quickley (51 minutes!)… For the Frenchman, who has not played since November 12, this new “DNP” was not surprising anyway.

“I’m not surprised, especially because the guys on the pitch were playing well. Cam and I discussed it on the bench. We already knew that, so no surprise.”slipped the tricolor rear after the meeting.

When Tom Thibodeau was asked why he did not expand his rotation with regard to the absent players, the Bulls coach stuck to his usual wooden language.

“I was more concerned with how we could contain them in the face. We tried to do it in a certain way. I thought we played well. We just missed each other when finishing the job in the last 30 seconds of the match., retorted the Knicks coach.

Difficult to stay mentally and physically ready

Evan Fournier will therefore have no more explanation than that from his coach, nor from his leaders, with whom he has still not spoken, despite the fact that he no longer plays when he is still the third highest salary in the workforce ($ 18 million this season), behind Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

” Not at all “, replied Evan Fournier when asked if he had exchanged with the “front office”. On the other hand, he expressed the possibility that his situation would change if Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett were to miss matches, as could be the case this evening on the Spurs floor.

“Maybe that will change? I haven’t played for six weeks now. I preached patience. It’s starting to get a bit long. But maybe there will be an opportunity. I do not know. We’ll see “.

For the former Poitevin, staying ready, both mentally and physically, is now a challenge.

“I’m still the same guy, you know? What do you want me to say ? I do not know what to say. Yes, it sucks not to play. It sucks. You know what, the thing that’s really hard is staying prepared and doing everything just in case you can play. That’s actually the hardest part when you’re not playing, finding the right level of work to stay ready.”