The NBA season has barely started but the French are already doing the show! Last night most of the NBA franchises started their seasons. Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert played an active part in the success of their team.
Evan Fournier has always dreamed of Madison Square Garden. So for his first in the mythical enclosure under the local colors, the French shone with the Knicks against the Celtics. In an ultra tight match (138-134 victory), the French scored 32 points including 12 during extra time and a decisive basket. With 13/25 shooting, he was efficient and was able to be decisive at the right time. He couldn’t have asked for a better debut. “It was mental, just mental,” Fournier said.
Even LeBron James was amazed by this incredible duel. The King couldn’t help but tweet about the excitement he got from this Knicks-Celtics:
Fournier’s performance is all the more incredible as he equaled his career point record (32) but also the points record for a Frenchman at the start of the season, which dates from 2008 and belongs to Tony Parker.
Rudy Gobert crushes the competition
Opposed to the Oklahoma City Thunder with his Utah Jazz team, the French pivot had an excellent game, with 16 points and 21 rebounds in the space of 29 minutes. Opposed in a direct duel to his former Jazz teammate Derrick Favors, the French giant had a blast. Faced with weak opposition, Utah quickly folded the case, winning with a final score of 107-86. In basketball jargon, this is called a blow-out (victory by at least 20 points difference).
Nicolas Batum, another part of the French basketball team, has not yet played since his Los Angeles Clippers team starts its season on the night of Thursday to Friday, against the Golden State Warriors. However, the captain of the Blues will miss this meeting against the franchise of Stephen Curry for personal reasons. Author of a very good 2020-2021 season and an excellent Olympic tournament, the French winger has experienced a real renaissance.
They shone less …
At the same time, some French people have had less success. Opposed to Rudy Gobert’s team, Théo Maledon suffered from the defensive pressure of Jazz. The French leader scored only 4 small points, took 2 rebounds and distributed 3 assists in 21 minutes.
Killian Hayes he started with his Detroit team against Chicago. He missed out on his match by remaining a fanny (no point scored in 20 minutes).
