Banned by NBA For Two Years, Former Rookie Of The Year Wants To Make Comeback

 


In 2019, he was banned from the NBA for two years for violating its Anti-Drug Program. Now, just 32 years old, former Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans is applying for reinstatement, and wants to make a comeback.

Some recent training video shows Evans looking in tip-top shape.  

Evans was known for his all around contributions on the court, with career averages of 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He also greatly improved his 3-point shooting, hitting at a 38% clip over the last four years of his career. 

Evans was the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft in 2009, three spots ahead of some guy named Steph Curry. And in fact, Tyreke beat out that Curry guy for ROY honors, averaging 20 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. 

The only other rookies in history to have put up 20-5-5 in their rookie year before him were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James. Nice company. 

Unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency dogged him for the rest of his career, until he was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA in May of 2019 for violating the league's substance abuse program.

He's now hoping to be reinstated, which will be based on several factors, including:

  • an examination of the  circumstances surrounding the original ban 
  • the player’s behavior and treatment — or lack thereof — during the ban
  • proof that the player has not failed a drug test for a minimum of one year 

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports