The Milwaukee Bucks could be getting a new star: former Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans.
After years of being out of the league because of a ban for drug use, Evans’ days outside of the NBA may be coming to an end and a revival of his career may be just around the corner.
Shams Charania reports that Evans is signing a contract with NBA G League team Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee affiliate team.
If all goes well and he impresses on the Herd, a deal with the Bucks could be in the cards too.
That would be a huge turnaround for Evans – whose career has already experienced a few turnarounds after a hugely successful and promising start…and subsequent fall from grace.
The Return Of Evans
He was the number four overall pick in 2009 and his career started with a bang.
In his first year, Evans was putting up 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, becoming just the fourth rookie in league history to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists a game.
Because of his incredible first season, Evans won Rookie of the Year over another newcomer, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
Sadly, things didn’t stay as great.
He never really produced anything better than that first season and struggled to consistently have an impact.
Evans then bounced around the league, leaving his Sacramento Kings for the New Orleans Pelicans, then the Memphis Grizzlies, and Indiana Pacers.
It all came to an end in 2019 when he was given a two-year ban from the league for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
His ban was not for marijuana or performance-enhancing drugs but rather a “drug of abuse” such as amphetamine, cocaine, or LSD.
The ban concluded last year but it looks like only now is Evans looking to make his way back in the league.
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