NBA makes huge Tyreke Evans decision after 2019 drug ban
Mia Walsh
Updated on April 01, 2026
Over the years in the NBA, there have been multiple players who have been banned by the authorities after their revelation upon extensive drug use. Tyreke Evans was one of those players. He played last in the 2018-19 season for the Indiana Pacers but was found to be violating the league’s and NBPA’s anti-drug policy. As a result, the same personnel were suspended.
Now, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Tyreke Evans has been handed a clear path to return back into the league, in the current 2021-22 season itself. To those who are not aware, Evans could have been reinstated last season. But the process of reinstatement takes time, being lengthy, courtesy to the various approvals required by NBA and players’ association.
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Tyreke Evans to have a clear path to enter NBA once again
The NBA is reinstating guard Tyreke Evans, sources tell ESPN. He was suspended from the league in 2019 with a drug ban.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 14, 2022
Furthermore, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, players banned for drugs need to “meet certain treatment and rehabilitation requirements before he can be reinstated.”
“For example, a player expelled for a drug of abuse must undergo weekly drug testing without testing positive for 12 months prior to the submission of his application for reinstatement.”
Evans was banned for violations of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Policy in 2019, and became eligible to apply for reinstatement this year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 14, 2022
After the long wait, Tyreke Evans has met all these requirements. Now, the only question is how ready he is when it comes to playing after over two and half seasons without the highest level of basketball. His conditioning will be key if he wants to land a job back in the NBA.
Evans is a free agent and can start negotiating with a team immediately. He's able to sign with a new team beginning Friday at noon ET.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 14, 2022
That being said, Tyreke Evans might be 32 years old, yet his career average of 15.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists, suggests that he could be a key bench option for multiple teams. Moreover, he won the Rookie of the Year in the 2009-10 season as well.
Given that the playoffs are approaching, Evans ability to shoot efficiently in the paint can come handy. Lastly, in the 2017-18 season, his average was a staggering 19.1 points per game with 45.2% shooting from the field. His stats do depict that teams are bound to get interested in the veteran guard.
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