How Good Tyreke Evans can get?

[KF10]

Tyreke is putting up one of the best numbers as a rookie since LeBron in 2003. Tyreke is averaging nearly 21/5/5 (20.7/4.7/4.9 to be exact). That's incredible for a 20 year old rookie.

The Good:

-On ball penetration and isolation skill set.

Tyreke's ability to get to the rim is fantastic. Evans' isolation skill set is advance for his age. He uses various of crossovers, hesitations, spin moves, ball fakes, jab steps, anything! You name it, Evans has it. His strength and size are one of his advantages to get to the rack. Whether he posts on smaller players or take anyone off the dribble, Evans will get his way to the rim. Evans is already elite in this aspect of the game. Evans is averaging 8.5 rim shots per game. That is #1 in the NBA. The last time a player that averages that much of attempts is Carmelo Anthony back in 2006-2007 season (where he averaged a monster 9.4 attempts at rim) Guys like Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo, LeBron James, etc are noted with their ability to get to the rim but Evans gets there more frequently than those guys. That's insane! Anyways, Tyreke converts them at a rate of 58.2% too, which is still pretty good. Evans is averaging 6.3 FT attempts per game! That's #1 of all rookies and #19 overall. The last rookie that gets to the FT line with that rate is Chris Paul back in 2005 (6.0 attempts per game) and Carmelo Anthony in 2003 (6.4 attempts per game). Tyreke's is in good standing. Very good standing.

-"LeBron of PGs"

6'6'' height
220 pounds
Nearly 7 foot wingspan (6' 11.25" to be exact)

Evans' body of work is amazing. Considering the fact that we use Evans as our starting PG, mismatches happens every time in favor for both Tyreke and the Kings. Whether or not they let their other guard defend Evans, Tyreke's strength and size will cause a mismatch every time. Consider this, according to measurements (in terms of PGs) Evans has the longest wingspan in the last 20 years. And as well as being the heaviest (in terms of bulk and built) PG over the past 2 decades. Evans' body of work is almost too perfect. The body control, change of gears/pace, versatility, basketball instincts, you name it. Evans has it. Look at LeBron. He is 250 and 6'8'' but his body is out of this world. No one shouldn't move that fast and having that much of athleticism with that size. I can see parallel comparison that can be made for Evans too minus the insane athleticism. Both of these guys are freaks in their respective positions.

-Defense.

One of the least heard aspects of Tyreke's game. As spectacular Evans is in his offense, his defense is almost equally spectacular. Evans is arguably one of the best defenders as a rookie in a while. You rarely call a rookie a good or a great defender, much less a solid defender. Evans on defense has been very good for us. Thanks to his long wingspan, he can challenge almost anyone's shot and make an amazing steal or a block shot. Evans instincts and discipline on this side has been tremendous. The Kings never had a very good defender on the PG position. I don't remember anyone be as good as Tyreke in the defensive side for the Kings since forever. (You may say guys like Ronnie Price, Jason Hart, Orien Greene, etc, who are defensive minded players but I don't think they're better than Tyreke on defense). Tyreke rarely blows his defensive assignments. When he is asked to be our primary defender, he is awesome. i.e. Evans' clutch defensive performance against Arenas. I think as Evans' matures as a player and gains experience, Evans can be a lock down defender.

-Clutch.

The kid is money in clutch time situations. Evans has 2 buzzer beaters under his belt. Currently, that is #2 in the NBA only behind both Kobe and Dirk with three buzzer beaters a piece. Whether the Kings need a bucket or a defensive performance, something tells me the kid will be among the leaders in this category for years.

-Poise and Maturity.

A 20 year old rookie shouldn't be this comfortable with the game early on to his career unless they have "IT" And Evans has "IT". His poise and respect for the game is one of my favorite aspects of Evans. It is a blast to see Evans being calm all the time. You never see him going through the motions.

The Bad:

Is he a 1 or a 2?

This is arguably the most referred question about Tyreke's game. "Is he a 1 or a 2"? Many say he is a SG playing PG. Other may say he is a combo guard that is able to play both positions very good. I think people are caught up with the positional category and definition. Tyreke may not be a PG in a Stockton, Nash mold but can he play PG ultimately well? Of course he can! Evans' passing abilities are very good, as well as his court awareness. He always has his head up and will make a play when the opportunity arises. You rarely get the vibe that Evans is a selfish basketball player. If ever at all. One of my biggest gripes at the time we drafted him is that if he is going to be a high volume-low assists/high TOs kind of player. But as Evans was proving me wrong (and other Kings fans) he proved to be the opposite. Evans is an fairly efficient guard that always look to make a play. Well, the TOs may be high for my likings (2.9-3.0) but considering the fact that most people in other boards were projecting him to lead the NBA in TOs if we have Evans play the PG position, I think we can live with that. Ultimately, whether or not Evans is a 1 or a 2, one thing is for sure, he is a damn good basketball player.

-Jumpshot.

You knew this was coming.

His jumpshot is still a work of progress. Even though, he repaired his jumpshot (not having the ball way behind his head anymore), it can be still improved. As of right now, Evans is a below average jumpshooter in general. He may get hot with his jumper once in a while but it is still not effective that Kings fans and management wants. The only spot that he is respectable is around the 16-23 foot area, which he shoots ~40%. I think Evans is a jumper away to wreck the NBA for the next decade. You can quote me on that.

...

The question still lingers:

How good Tyreke Evans get?

He has not scratch the surface of his potential yet! That's the scary part. He is already regarded as one of the better players in the league. Top 25? Top 30? I think once Evans get his jumper and being regarded as one of the best 2-way basketball players in the league, superstar potential is right around the corner of Tyreke Evans.

[RIPskaterdude]

Good points, it's unbelievable to think about that if we would have beat the Lakers or Cavs, Evans could have had even more game winners under his belt already..

[RoyalCourtJestr]

I've said this before. Tyreke may not be a prototypical point, but we can't put a true PG next to him and expect it to be successful. Like Brandon Roy, or even LBJ, Evans needs the ball in his hands to be effective. Tyreke has the passing skills and the decent floor leadership knowledge to be a fine passer - and even if he's not the 9-10 assist per season kinda guy, he'll be effective. He has to be the point, or we need to put a scoring point next to him.

[KF10]

Yeah, you are probably right. Evans needs to have the ball to be truly effective. Unless, he improves his off the ball skill tremendously (which usually correlates with jumpshooting), I don't think it is wise to see Evans paired up with another player that needs the ball to be effective.

[SacTownKings4Life]

Good points, it's unbelievable to think about that if we would have beat the Lakers or Cavs, Evans could have had even more game winners under his belt already..

That, in my eyes, is the problem right there. It shouldn't have been about "him getting more game winners under his belt". We are promoting too much of a Sportscenter mentality. In both instances, we should have taken a timeout and drawn up a legitimate play. Evans got in WAY over his head (one-on-one against Lebron and Kobe?!?), and it just goes to show that sometimes we just put WAY too much pressure on (ultimately) a 20 year old kid. I mean, it's nice that he can break people down with such frequency, but sometimes, we should do a better job of picking and choosing his spots. He has all the makings of becoming a great player, but he is not YET a miracle worker. Like I said, on those occasions, we should have ran something better. You can't be too one-dimentional. Especially when you know he can't shoot yet.
Once he works on that J, THEN maybe we can try things again.

[darkadun]

Good points, it's unbelievable to think about that if we would have beat the Lakers or Cavs, Evans could have had even more game winners under his belt already..

That, in my eyes, is the problem right there. It shouldn't have been about "him getting more game winners under his belt". We are promoting too much of a Sportscenter mentality. In both instances, we should have taken a timeout and drawn up a legitimate play. Evans got in WAY over his head (one-on-one against Lebron and Kobe?!?), and it just goes to show that sometimes we just put WAY too much pressure on (ultimately) a 20 year old kid. I mean, it's nice that he can break people down with such frequency, but sometimes, we should do a better job of picking and choosing his spots. He has all the makings of becoming a great player, but he is not YET a miracle worker. Like I said, on those occasions, we should have ran something better. You can't be too one-dimentional. Especially when you know he can't shoot yet.
Once he works on that J, THEN maybe we can try things again.

I agree to a extent, but I think Evans fits more of the Kobe/Lebron mold. I'm not saying he is those guys, rather in his mind he wants the ball at the end of games. It doesnt seem like pressure bothers him. With that said, I strongly believe as Evans grows he will look to establish his teamates first and learn when to get his points and when not too. Kobe and Lebron have both grown in that respect thru their careers.

[sacking101]

Tyreke could be averaging over 6 assist this season if teamates would make shots. I know you could say this about every player but especially for Evans. We have been shooting horribly as a team as of late and Evans is finding guys for open shots and even open layups that they are missing.

[method]

Congrats King fans for finally getting your franchise player.Hopefully by the end of the year us Knicks will.

[OGSactownballer]

Good points, it's unbelievable to think about that if we would have beat the Lakers or Cavs, Evans could have had even more game winners under his belt already..

That, in my eyes, is the problem right there. It shouldn't have been about "him getting more game winners under his belt". We are promoting too much of a Sportscenter mentality. In both instances, we should have taken a timeout and drawn up a legitimate play. Evans got in WAY over his head (one-on-one against Lebron and Kobe?!?), and it just goes to show that sometimes we just put WAY too much pressure on (ultimately) a 20 year old kid. I mean, it's nice that he can break people down with such frequency, but sometimes, we should do a better job of picking and choosing his spots. He has all the makings of becoming a great player, but he is not YET a miracle worker. Like I said, on those occasions, we should have ran something better. You can't be too one-dimentional. Especially when you know he can't shoot yet.
Once he works on that J, THEN maybe we can try things again.

This is the kind of stuff that I am getting tired of.

Both of those guys started out the same way. In Kobe's situation it wa MJ who made him look stupid as a rook. For LeBron it was Kobe and the guys who were at the top in his frist year. The best of the bst still have to earn their stripes for a year or two anyway. Tyreke will get his in time. I feel very alone when I say that seeing him try to take on those guys at crunch time was one of the bst things I - as a Kings fan - have ever seen!

[ICMTM]

It's an element we have never had! Yeah Bibby was clutch but he and Webber had to play off each other late in games. You didn't roll the ball to Mike and say bring us home. Heck you really couldn't do that with Webb to a certain extent either.

With Reke you can not only give him the ball, but he can make a huge stop as well. I think the steal on Arenas was better than any of his game winners. He picked him CLEAN.

[BigSlam]

Although he doesn't have the outside stroke (just yet), I've always felt he reminded me a lot of Manu Ginobili with his creativity, ability to slash to the hole and get others involved.

Thoughts?

[rwheeler]

I feel very alone when I say that seeing him try to take on those guys at crunch time was one of the bst things I - as a Kings fan - have ever seen!

My friend you are not alone!!! Chills were down my neck just anticipating what was I was about to witness! I don't think since that WCF series against the Lakers have I felt butterflies like that.

I think the steal on Arenas was better than any of his game winners. He picked him CLEAN.

Well in all respect that was a game winner in its own right. What a CLASSIC highlight for his rookie season.

Regarding Evans's potential, its no secret he has all the tools to be ELITE. My worries lie with all his nagging injuries he's seemed to deal with already in his short career. He's been hurt in the summer league, preseason, and numerous times throughout the regular season including just recently against Utah. Thankfully nothing has been real serious and he hasn't missed excess amounts of time, but still looking at the future its something I hope goes away.

[KF10]

Although he doesn't have the outside stroke (just yet), I've always felt he reminded me a lot of Manu Ginobili with his creativity, ability to slash to the hole and get others involved.

Thoughts?

Ok comparison. It isn't too bad. Ginobili is better off the ball than Evans but Ginobili was never a slasher nor a penetration threat like Evans though. I think Brandon Roy is a more appropriate comparison for Evans if we are going to be in this context.

[SacTownKings4Life]

This is the kind of stuff that I am getting tired of.

Both of those guys started out the same way. In Kobe's situation it wa MJ who made him look stupid as a rook. For LeBron it was Kobe and the guys who were at the top in his frist year. The best of the bst still have to earn their stripes for a year or two anyway. Tyreke will get his in time. I feel very alone when I say that seeing him try to take on those guys at crunch time was one of the bst things I - as a Kings fan - have ever seen!

But the thing is, he just wasn't ready yet. And the results of his one-on-one duels have clearly shown this. I'm not knocking him as a player or anything, I'm just saying that we could have gotten a better shot than that. Heck, we didn't even GET a shot on either occasion. (he fell down and lost the ball against Kobe, and took a desperation heave which didn't beat buzzer against lebron)
Kobe has that dagger jump shot. Lebron can drive too, but has also developed a formidable outside shot as of late. And we ALL know about Jordan's "shot". Evans NEEDS to add that outside jumper to his arsenal if he's ever going to TRUELY attain "Kobe/Lebron" status.

[Krle_12]

This is the kind of stuff that I am getting tired of.

Both of those guys started out the same way. In Kobe's situation it wa MJ who made him look stupid as a rook. For LeBron it was Kobe and the guys who were at the top in his frist year. The best of the bst still have to earn their stripes for a year or two anyway. Tyreke will get his in time. I feel very alone when I say that seeing him try to take on those guys at crunch time was one of the bst things I - as a Kings fan - have ever seen!

But the thing is, he just wasn't ready yet. And the results of his one-on-one duels have clearly shown this. I'm not knocking him as a player or anything, I'm just saying that we could have gotten a better shot than that. Heck, we didn't even GET a shot on either occasion. (he fell down and lost the ball against Kobe, and took a desperation heave which didn't beat buzzer against lebron)
Kobe has that dagger jump shot. Lebron can drive too, but has also developed a formidable outside shot as of late. And we ALL know about Jordan's "shot". Evans NEEDS to add that outside jumper to his arsenal if he's ever going to TRUELY attain "Kobe/Lebron" status.

But you are missing a point here. Neither was Kobe against MJ and neither was LeBron against Kobe. But one thing they all have in common is that they WANTED that ball. They DIDN'T shy away from the contest and they WANTED to make a play what ever the outcome. That is a special quality to have. There are players out there that just soil their pants with the game on the line. They shy away from the ball.

Evans is NOT like that and neither are the players that he failed against in those situations. The only way he can learn is to experience what he did experience against Kobe and LeBron. It shows him the level he needs to get to if he wants to be as good as them. If we don't put Evans in that position he will not learn, nor will he experience what it is like to fail against the best players.

I will say one thing, when the game is on the line I want the ball in Reke's hands all the time. I want him to take that last shot no matter who he is going up against. Whether its Kobe, LeBron, Wade.....I don't care because the only way our team can succeed in the long run is if Tyreke becomes like those players and the only way he can achieve that greatness is if he is given the opportunity and experience to try.

He might have looked like a school kid against seasoned foxes like LeBron and Kobe but one thing is for certain, he learns from it and if he is faced with the same situation again with those players he WILL succeed because he knows where he made a mistake last time.

In those 2 games, Tyreke was making exactly the same mistakes as LeBron and Kobe as rookies but one thing that they all have in common is that neither of them shied away from the challenge and that is what makes Kobe and LeBron greats and its the exact reason why Tyreke will join them one day (when he gets a consistent jump shot that is )

[darkadun]

Totally agree. Tyreke has no problem carrying the team. Look at what he did last night against SA, scoring 10 points in the final 30-40 seconds. They scored 19 points int the final 2 minutes (I believe) and it was all Tyreke. The buckets he didn't score himself were assisted. thats insane.

And the crazy thing is he looks comfortable. He doesn't look like pressure fazes him, it seems like he is up for any challenge. Thats the biggest thing in my mind that separates players, Mentality. Other players have the talent to be great, but lack the mind-set, lack the clutch playmaking.

[kasino]

I wish i was a king fan cause this boy is going to be a bad bad man
Lebron of pg that is perfect
long as he stay at point he will be a beast(playing 2 would be less of a match-up problem)

[Draino]

have you guys noticed that Tyreke rarely EVER dunks? He always lays it up lol

[bjax24]

Tyreke's swagger as a rookie is great. It's not an "in your face" type, which many people confuse as swagger, but his body language and comfortability (i dont even know if that's a word), Dude will be a superstar in 2 years, maybe sooner.

[Draino]

No doubt, I just love how he never gets super excited, like when he makes a big play he just keeps a very calm expression on his face, thats pretty rare in a any player, not just a rookie