RJ Barrett might have to pump the brakes on his trash talk aimed at a Knicks teammate after his performance on Friday at the FIBA World Cup.
Ahead of Canada’s game against France in the Group H opener in Jakarta, Indonesia, Barrett admitted he was “talking trash to Evan Fournier every day for a while now.”
But though Canada won easily, 95-65, Barrett managed just five points on 1-for-10 shooting while Fournier led France with 21 points on 8-for-19 shooting.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led a balanced attack for Canada with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists for a tie with Latvia atop the group.
Barrett did add six rebounds and five assists to go along with his woeful shooting night, but it was clearly Gilgeous-Alexander’s show on Friday.
Fournier managed just two points in the second half after he exploded during the first 20 minutes for 19 points.
The French sharpshooter, who signed a four-year, $73 million deal in a sign-and-trade to join the Knicks in 2021, has become an outcast after he was jettisoned from head coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation last season.
The French sharpshooter, who signed a four-year, $73 million deal in a sign-and-trade to the Knicks in 2021, has become a Knicks outcast after he was jettisoned from head coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation last season.
Fournier also has blasted the squad in the media.
“I’m going to be traded, it’s not possible otherwise,” Fournier, speaking in his native French, told the outlet L’Equipe in July. “Or I’d be stuck, and so would they. They have several players with big contracts coming in. Unless they want to pay a crazy luxury tax.
“I’m going to be traded, it’s not possible otherwise,” Fournier, speaking in his native French, told the outlet L’Equipe in July. “Or I’d be stuck, and so would they. They have several players with big contracts coming in. Unless they want to pay a crazy luxury tax.
“If I stayed, it would be a disaster … for my career. I can manage a year without playing. Two, that would be terrible.”
Fournier averaged six points per game last year as his playing time plummeted.
He played in just 27 games and started in seven after he started all 80 games during the 2021-22 season.
