Not much has gone as planned for the Memphis Grizzlies this year. Tyreke Evans, on the other hand, has been a pleasant surprise.
When the Memphis Grizzlies signed Tyreke Evans before the season began, no one was really sure what to expect. He had stayed hurt for years and hadn’t been able to again reach the peak of his career which was his rookie season. There were many people who believed that he wouldn’t contribute much.
How wrong were they.
Now, it would not be hyperbole to say that Tyreke Evans was the steal of the 2017 offseason. When the Memphis Grizzlies were competitive early in the season, he was great coming off the bench. When the team finally hit rock bottom, he was still great when he became the number one option.
Simply put, if you’re going to make a team of “guys who can roll out of bed and get buckets”, Tyreke Evans has proven himself to be a top 5 pick.
As the Grizzlies continue to dip to the bottom of the standings, it’s clear that this is a season where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Ironically, it’s also a season where Evans surpassed even the most optimistic expectations for himself.
The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.
Tyreke may never have another season stat line where he averages 19-5-5. He also may never be in a Grizzlies uniform again after this season. However, if this truly is the peak of his career, then what a peak it was.
Evans may be many things: A scorer, a blackhole, and a streetballer. This year, he has showed that you can add a “winner” to that list. Winners don’t quit when the going gets tough, and his resolve has not faltered in the face of adversity.
Next: Memphis Grizzlies: 2018 Draft Big Board 1.0
Tyreke Evans deserves to play on a true contender. And maybe next year, he will finally get that opportunity.