ORLANDO, Fla. — Evan Fournier played nearly seven seasons for the Magic — so the Knicks’ new shooting guard knows what it’s like when New York comes to Orlando.
Even during their down days, the Knicks, who faced the Magic on Friday night, had a good showing of orange-and-blue patrons in Orlando’s downtown arena.
“Of course I remember,’’ Fournier said at the morning shootaround Friday at Amway Center. “You actually hate it. There’s a few teams like that. There’s a lot of Miami fans, Boston, New York. It’s a horrible feeling. Now that I’m on the other side of it, I’m looking forward to it 100 percent. I’m looking forward to seeing the Knicks fans.’’
Fournier was traded from the Magic to the Celtics at the trade deadline last season and has already made one return trip back to Orlando.
“That was I think a week after I got back from COVID,’’ Fournier said. “We got the win. I’ve played here already, so that was my homecoming. Honestly, it feels good to be in a [familiar] arena, see guys I know, see people from the organization.’’
Fournier poured in 32 points Wednesday in the Knicks’ 138-134 season-opening win over Boston, hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of double overtime and drained three 3s in the first overtime.
After a tentative preseason, the 28-year-old Frenchman also took the ball to the basket and showed a more diverse game than Reggie Bullock, the player he replaced. He looked every bit a $78 million player.
“You want to start like that obviously, veteran or not,’’ Fournier said.
On Thursday, Fournier retweeted a video of Knicks fans celebrating manically outside the Garden after the dramatic win.
“What did I get myself into?” he tweeted with several laughing emojis.
“I was laughing my ass off,’’ Fournier said. “I thought it was hilarious. They’re crazy, but they’re passionate. And when you play that’s what you want, you want a fan base that’s really pushing you. The energy that they gave us against the Celtics was a big reason we won the game.’’
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau finally owned up to the fact former Magic coach Steve Clifford, one of Thibodeau’s close friends, gave a big recommendation on Fournier. (Clifford now consults for the Nets.)
“[Clifford] wasn’t willing to share anything,’’ Thibodeau said jokingly.
Turning serious, the Knicks coach said: “I had known that from the time I spent down here [during a coaching hiatus] — the way [Clifford] talked about him over the years and from coaching against him. All the things he did here. Even the short time in Boston, I thought he played well. And we saw what he did with France [in the Olympics]. He doesn’t get rattled and isn’t afraid of big moments. His shooting has been pretty obvious. It’s his ability to put it on the floor.’’
Magic point guard Cole Anthony spent most of his rookie season with Fournier as his teammate and they became close.
“He’s my guy,’’ Anthony said. “I’ve seen what he did that first game so he’s obviously comfortable. I’m sure he’s loving New York. I’ve seen Instagram stories that he’s eating good. So I think he got a little fat. I’m going to talk to him tonight and tell him get on a diet with me.’’
Fournier sold his Orlando house over the summer and has already bought a place in Manhattan. The Orlando writers asked Fournier about his famed husky dog enjoying the big city.
“He’s loving it, man,’’ Fournier said. “I’m dead serious. He’s hunting rats at night. I’m serious.’’