Thibodeau: Fournier is frontrunner to start for Knicks

New York Knicks guard Evan Fournier. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Thibodeau: Evan Fournier is frontrunner to start at SG for Knicks

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated 9/27/22

It did not take long for Tom Thibodeau to stir up a new round of ire from New York Knicks fans.

Speaking with the media at training camp on Tuesday, the Knicks coach Thibodeau revealed his plans for the starting 2 guard spot next season. Noting that the team needs shooting, Thibodeau said that veteran Evan Fournier is the frontrunner to start.

Tom Thibodeau is asked about the starting shooting guard spot: “With Jalen, with RJ, with Julius we need shooting (at SG).” When asked about it, Thibodeau says Evan Fournier is front-runner to start at SG entering training camp.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 27, 2022

Thibodeau’s comment was not what Knicks fans wanted to hear, especially with second-year guard Quentin Grimes lying in wait. Grimes is a far better defender than Fournier and was also a comparable 3-point shooter last season (38.1% to 38.9% from Fournier).

But the Knicks committed a four-year, $73M contract to Fournier last offseason (though the sunk-cost fallacy might be in play with that one), and Thibodeau rarely plays young guys over veterans. You can understand where the fans are coming from though since the Knicks essentially made Grimes untouchable this summer, possibly costing them a shot at this All-Star.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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