Don’t expect to see Tyreke Evans on an NBA court anytime soon.
The league announced Friday that the Indiana Pacers’ swingman has been dismissed and disqualified from the league for violations of the terms of the NBA/National Basketball Players Association anti-drug program.
Under terms of the program, Evans will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on two years.
The 29-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.3 minutes in 69 games (18 starts) for the Pacers this season, shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from deep and 71.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Evans sat out one game early this season because of violations of team rules and issued an apology for being late to practice. He also missed three games late in the year because of personal reasons and a respiratory infection.
The Pacers said they received the news of Evans’ banishment Friday.
“We take these matters seriously and will reach out to Tyreke to offer our support,” the team said in a statement.
Indiana general manager Kevin Pritchard declined further comment at the NBA draft combine in Chicago.
Among players who have been banned under the policy, O.J. Mayo and Chris Andersen are the most recent. Others in the past include Roy Tarpley, Richard Dumas, Micheal Ray Richardson, Lewis Lloyd, Duane Washington and Stanley Roberts, many of whom were eventually reinstated.
According to the NBA’s policy, a player can be dismissed and disqualified from the league for testing positive for a drug of abuse, or if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to the use, possession or distribution of a drug of abuse.
Evans was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2010 after being drafted fourth overall pick out of the University of Memphis in the 2009 NBA Draft. He has also played for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Evans carries career averages of 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.7 minutes in 594 games (426 starts), with a shooting line of 44.0/32.3/75.7.
Evans was slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.