Tyreke Evans

Lore & Background

Evans joined the Pelicans in a three-team sign-and-trade on July 10, 2013, which sent Robin Lopez to the Portland Trail Blazers and Greivis Vásquez to the Kings. On December 30, 2013, he hit the game-clinching shot with 1.2 seconds remaining in a victory over the Trail Blazers. On April 14, 2014, he scored a career-high 41 points during a 101–89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a 101–95 win over his former team, the Sacramento Kings, Evans tallied a near triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists.

His 2015–16 season was delayed by right knee surgery, causing him to miss the Pelicans' first 17 games. He returned on December 1, 2015, recording 20 points and 10 assists in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. On December 11, 2015, he scored 27 points and hit a career-high 5 three-pointers in a 105–103 win versus the Washington Wizards. On February 11, 2016, he underwent another round of surgery to his right knee and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

On December 15, 2016, in his first game since January 25, he played 11 minutes and posted 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists during a 102–95 victory over the Indiana Pacers. On January 12, 2017, Evans scored a season-high 29 points in a 104–95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Reader's Guide

Tyreke Evans arrived in New Orleans on July 10, 2013, via a three-team sign-and-trade that sent Robin Lopez to the Portland Trail Blazers and Greivis Vásquez to the Sacramento Kings. His tenure with the Pelicans was defined by explosive scoring and playmaking, but also by significant injury setbacks. | Milestone | Date | Significance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Game-winning shot | December 30, 2013 | Hit the game-clinching shot with 1.2 seconds remaining vs. Portland Trail Blazers | | Career-high points | April 14, 2014 | Scored 41 points in a 101–89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder | | Near triple-double | — | Tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists in a 101–95 win over the Sacramento Kings | | Season debut after knee surgery | December 1, 2015 | Recorded 20 points and 10 assists in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies after missing 17 games | | Career-high three-pointers | December 11, 2015 | Hit 5 three-pointers in a 105–103 win over the Washington Wizards | | Return from second knee surgery | December 15, 2016 | Played 11 minutes in a 102–95 win over the Indiana Pacers, his first game since January 25 | | Season-high with Pelicans | January 12, 2017 | Scored 29 points in a 104–95 win over the Brooklyn Nets |

Evans was traded back to the Sacramento Kings on February 20, 2017, along with Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, and draft picks, in exchange for DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi.