NBA Drops Hammer on Ex-Rookie of the Year, Issues Multi-Year Ban
Tyreke Evans, who won the 2010 Rookie of the Year award, has been “dismissed and disqualified” from the NBA after being found in violation of the league’s anti-drug program, according to ESPN.
Evans’ ban will last two years, The Washington Post noted, meaning he can’t even apply for reinstatement until prior to the 2021-22 season.
A 10-year NBA veteran, Evans signed with the Indiana Pacers last season and played in 69 games. He averaged 10.2 points per game, significantly lower than the 19.4 ppg he averaged the previous season with the Grizzlies.
Evans was due to enter free agency this summer, though the Pacers said in a statement the NBA had informed them of Evans’ ban.
“We take these matters seriously and will reach out to Tyreke to offer our support,” the team said.
Statement on Tyreke Evans: https://t.co/0n2WI4zN3G pic.twitter.com/F7d2tFLrD8
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 17, 2019
Under the NBA’s policy, a disqualification results from a player testing positive for one or more “drugs of abuse.” This doesn’t include marijuana, as sportswriter Alex Kennedy alluded to on Twitter.
Tyreke Evans tested positive for “drugs of abuse.” According to ESPN (when Chris Andersen was dismissed for this), “The drugs on that list are amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.”
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 17, 2019
Evans is far from the first player to be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for violating this policy.
“The last player suspended under this policy was O.J. Mayo on July 1, 2016,” the Indianapolis Star pointed out.
“Others include Roy Tarpley, Richard Dumas, Micheal Ray Richardson, Lewis Lloyd, Duane Washington and Stanley Roberts,” ESPN said, as well as Chris “Birdman” Andersen.
For Evans to be reinstated, he needs approval from both the NBA and the NBA Players Association.
The Pacers signed Evans to a one-year, $12.4 million contract last offseason to help improve their second unit.
But he set career lows in nearly every statistic, including points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage.
He was also suspended for chronic tardiness in just the sixth contest of the regular season. He did improve his play in the postseason, averaging 15.3 ppg.
Even with his struggles, Evans didn’t rule out a return to Indiana during an end-of-season interview.
He also said he would work harder than ever before to put the past season behind him.
“Knowing when to attack, knowing when not to attack, it was a little different for me,” Evans told the Star.
“Everybody has ups and downs. I’m going to be ready for next year and work my [butt] off to be so.”
Evans turns 30 in September and has also played for the Kings and Pelicans, in addition to the Pacers and Grizzlies, in his career.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
