Tyreke Evans dismissed and disqualified from league

[BallSacBounce]

I'm assuming this is not the first time he has been caught. I also don't get the takes that this is wrong by the NBA to do this. The NBA is not his family or parents. It's not on them to help him in this situation. They're his employer. They have a rule and Evans knew the rule and broke it.

this not it

if it's a drug problem, banning him from the league helps no one. send him to rehab. give him support. it's not about being his family it's just common decency and how you should treat your employees.

It helps the next NBA guy who thinks it's a good idea to start using drugs.

[yoyoboy]

I'm assuming this is not the first time he has been caught. I also don't get the takes that this is wrong by the NBA to do this. The NBA is not his family or parents. It's not on them to help him in this situation. They're his employer. They have a rule and Evans knew the rule and broke it.

this not it

if it's a drug problem, banning him from the league helps no one. send him to rehab. give him support. it's not about being his family it's just common decency and how you should treat your employees.

It helps the next NBA guy who thinks it's a good idea to start using drugs.

No it doesn't at all actually, and this kind of logic shows how little you understand about drug addiction. Again, drug users almost always have deeper emotional problems or histories of abuse/family issues that lead to them turning to methods of escaping that. Tyreke's ban will have absolutely no effect on preventing that in future cases. Drugs aren't the "forbidden fruit" you're making them out to be.

[BallSacBounce]

this not it

if it's a drug problem, banning him from the league helps no one. send him to rehab. give him support. it's not about being his family it's just common decency and how you should treat your employees.

It helps the next NBA guy who thinks it's a good idea to start using drugs.

No it doesn't at all actually, and this kind of logic shows how little you understand about drug addiction.

Yes it does and I don't care what you say!

[Texas Chuck]

Please stop preaching on a basketball forum saying we need "grace" and show more compassion. Keep religious stuff out this please. Everyone struggles but I dont need read this religious type worded post you made as a mod seems more out of place. Anyways gl to tyreke with his battle.

Had no idea "grace" was exclusively religious. I certainly wasn't trying to bring religion into this discussion either.

But yes, I do think there are times we all need it, whether from God or just our fellow humans. I know I've received a ton and I know I failed more times than I want to admit to myself to extend it to others. Even in this very thread, where I got a little sanctimonious and luckily a poster was willing to call me on it.

I have no personal issue with substance abuse or addiction. But that doesn't make me better than those who do struggle with it. And what do any us of gain from condemning them rather than trying to help them get healthy? It's sickening how full our jails are of people not because they are "bad" people but because they have mental health or addiction issues that we have chosen to punish rather than treat.

Or as George Costanza would remind us, "We live in a society, people."

[LKN]

Wow - you don't hear about a lot of NBA guys getting suspended for drugs (seems to happen constantly in the NFL)

[Froob]

Send the guy to rehab and get him help. Don’t ban him for two years and ostracize him.

Really makes no sense. NFL doing the same thing to Josh Gordon.

The NFL is doing what exactly to Josh Gordon? Besides giving him second chances, leniency and treatment?

June 7, 2013: The NFL suspends Gordon for two games to start the 2013 season after the second-year receiver violates he league's substance abuse policy.

July 5, 2014: Gordon is arrested in Raleigh, N.C. after cops pulled him over for speeding. Gordon had a blood-alcohol level of .09, which was above the state legal limit of .08.

August 27, 2014: The NFL suspends Gordon for the entire 2014 season after the wideout violates the league's substance abuse policy for the second time.

Nov. 17, 2014: Gordon is reinstated by the NFL.

Dec. 27, 2014: Gordon is suspended by the Browns for the regular season finale for a violation of team rules.

Jan. 25, 2015: The NFL gives Gordon another year-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, this time testing positive for alcohol.

July 25, 2016: Gordon is officially reinstated by the NFL after his first application for reinstatement in January was denied.

Sept. 29, 2016: Gordon decides to take a leave of absence and enter a rehab facility in New Hampshire.

Nov. 1, 2017: Gordon is reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis with a chance to return to play for the Browns in Week 13.

August 18, 2018: Gordon reports to Browns training camp after missing three weeks to focus on his “mental health”.

Dec. 20, 2018: Gordon announces he's stepping away from football to focus on his mental health. ESPN's Adam Schefter later reported that Gordon is facing another indefinite suspension for violating the terms of his reinstatement.

Addiction is difficult to overcome. He’s not using PEDs so he isn’t cheating, why suspend a guy for a non PED?

[nymets1]

So I'm assuming Tyreke Evans has been removed from the Indiana Pacers salary cap? He shouldn't count against the Pacers salary cap.

[SouthJersey]

So what if a guy have a gambling addiction and continues to steal from his company to fund his habit, should he not be fired? Or should they be understanding of his addiction and get him help?

[jswede]

Really makes no sense. NFL doing the same thing to Josh Gordon.

The NFL is doing what exactly to Josh Gordon? Besides giving him second chances, leniency and treatment?

June 7, 2013: The NFL suspends Gordon for two games to start the 2013 season after the second-year receiver violates he league's substance abuse policy.

July 5, 2014: Gordon is arrested in Raleigh, N.C. after cops pulled him over for speeding. Gordon had a blood-alcohol level of .09, which was above the state legal limit of .08.

August 27, 2014: The NFL suspends Gordon for the entire 2014 season after the wideout violates the league's substance abuse policy for the second time.

Nov. 17, 2014: Gordon is reinstated by the NFL.

Dec. 27, 2014: Gordon is suspended by the Browns for the regular season finale for a violation of team rules.

Jan. 25, 2015: The NFL gives Gordon another year-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, this time testing positive for alcohol.

July 25, 2016: Gordon is officially reinstated by the NFL after his first application for reinstatement in January was denied.

Sept. 29, 2016: Gordon decides to take a leave of absence and enter a rehab facility in New Hampshire.

Nov. 1, 2017: Gordon is reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis with a chance to return to play for the Browns in Week 13.

August 18, 2018: Gordon reports to Browns training camp after missing three weeks to focus on his “mental health”.

Dec. 20, 2018: Gordon announces he's stepping away from football to focus on his mental health. ESPN's Adam Schefter later reported that Gordon is facing another indefinite suspension for violating the terms of his reinstatement.

Addiction is difficult to overcome. He’s not using PEDs so he isn’t cheating, why suspend a guy for a non PED?

What you are suggesting is tantamount to enabling.

[Duke4life831]

So what if a guy have a gambling addiction and continues to steal from his company to fund his habit, should he not be fired? Or should they be understanding of his addiction and get him help?

That's a false equivalency though. Evans was not stealing from the Pacers.

[jswede]

I'm assuming this is not the first time he has been caught. I also don't get the takes that this is wrong by the NBA to do this. The NBA is not his family or parents. It's not on them to help him in this situation. They're his employer. They have a rule and Evans knew the rule and broke it.

this not it

if it's a drug problem, banning him from the league helps no one. send him to rehab. give him support. it's not about being his family it's just common decency and how you should treat your employees.

After reviewing the NBA/NBPA Drug Policy, it's clear Evans was in Stage 2 of the Drugs of Abuse Rehabilitation Program:

G. Treatment
Any player that enters the Program must comply with the in-patient and/or aftercare ordered by the Medical Director, including, but not limited to, random testing on a frequent basis for Prohibited Substances and alcohol.

A player’s failure to comply with his in-patient or aftercare treatment while in the Program will result in substantial fines and suspensions, which will be imposed until that player fully complies with the requirements of the Program. If the player is in the Drugs of Abuse Program, his failure to comply with the Program’s requirements can also lead to the termination of his player contract or his dismissal and disqualification from the NBA.

During Stage 2 of the Drugs of Abuse Program, a player will automatically be suspended during his period of in-patient treatment and for at least six months of his aftercare. Any later use, possession or distribution of a Drug of Abuse by a Stage 2 player (even if voluntarily disclosed) will result in his dismissal and disqualification from the NBA.

If a player seeks treatment outside the Program, he may be required to be tested without notice. If the player tests positive for a Drug of Abuse during this testing, or does not voluntarily come forward for testing within 60 days of the NBA’s request, the player will advance two stages in the Drugs of Abuse Program. If he was previously in the Drugs of Abuse Program, he will be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA.

The idea that the NBA & NBPA don't provide care and opportunities to get clean is ludicrous.

[SouthJersey]

So what if a guy have a gambling addiction and continues to steal from his company to fund his habit, should he not be fired? Or should they be understanding of his addiction and get him help?

That's a false equivalency though. Evans was not stealing from the Pacers.

Really? If he's using drugs and not living up to deal they signed to him because of drugs, that is a form of stealing.

[Rainwater]

2 years for nose beers seems excessive

Tell that to Reggie Lewis. Oh wait......

[Ayt]

Yeah. Taking him away from his best possible support system has never made sense as a policy--not if you care about your players as human beings.

Is it the NBA's job to be his best possible support system? The NBA is his job first and foremost. I could see the argument for someone struggling to make a living working at Best Buy and them firing him for drugs. How is he doing to afford rent and so on, the stress from that is just going to make things worse. But again that's not Best Buy's business.

Evans should have no worry when it comes to financial support. So why should the NBA be his best support system? It's not their job to be that. His support system should be friends and loved ones. Now that can easily include people inside the NBA and even NBA owners (no clue his relationship with Memphis or Indy's owner). But I just don't see how any of this falls on the NBA to try and pick him up from this. The vast majority of companies send the packing and don't give an option to maybe come back in 2 years.

I think Best Buy would be supportive of an employee with a drug issue. Obviously if the employee was doing them at work or something they would lose their job, but most employers and certainly one the size of Best Buy is going to have an extensive EAP.

Yes maybe he does have supportive friends and family though its much more likely one or both of these areas is part of the problem in relation to the addiction. The NBA should have programs in place to work with their partners.

They do. The NBA has an extensive treatment program. I don't know why so many people are assuming they don't. Tyreke getting suspended doesn't mean the NBA has washed their hands of him as a human being.

I'm assuming this is not the first time he has been caught. I also don't get the takes that this is wrong by the NBA to do this. The NBA is not his family or parents. It's not on them to help him in this situation. They're his employer. They have a rule and Evans knew the rule and broke it.

this not it

if it's a drug problem, banning him from the league helps no one. send him to rehab. give him support. it's not about being his family it's just common decency and how you should treat your employees.

He's already gotten all that at this point. They don't just immediately suspend someone for two years.

[Rainwater]

Mannix says it's not PED related. I'm guessing it's a hard drug: cocaine, opiods or meth.

Send the guy to rehab and get him help. Don’t ban him for two years and ostracize him.

Really makes no sense. NFL doing the same thing to Josh Gordon.

I maybe wrong but Josh Gordon has had multiple stints in drug rehab centers and has had multiple chances in the NFL; a few times with the Browns and once with the Pats. Kinda different situations. I don't know what else you expect from the NFL.

[MagicStarwipe]

It helps the next NBA guy who thinks it's a good idea to start using drugs.

No it doesn't at all actually, and this kind of logic shows how little you understand about drug addiction.

Yes it does and I don't care what you say!

That's actually you in your avatar isn't it?

[JN61]

Seems appropriate. He knew what he was doing and pays for it. Actually could be harsher 4 year one where player could have chance to lower it if they go through rehabilitation and lectures against drugs/other similar work.

[letsgobulls23]

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[Rainwater]

Yes, addiction should be treated with compassion but I don't know what else you expect from the NBA. They are probably one of the most liberal sports leagues. They have a drug policy agreed upon by the league and the player's association. They are pretty soft on drugs such as weed by giving players multiple chances but only come down on hard drugs. They seem to offer drug rehab programs for addiction. Honestly, the ban maybe the best thing for him as it may take him out of the club environment and allows him to focus on his sobriety. The NBA has provided him plenty of guaranteed money and endorsements so he is good financially. Additionally, if the program provided by the NBA does not help, he has the economic flexibility to get right treatment for himself.

If Evans worked a normal job he would just be fired just for a weed offense and not be given any of the benefits given by the NBA.

[Hoosier TJ]

Lol! Guy is a moron. Glad he won't be back in a Pacers uniform ever again, one season was enough. Extremely lazy, skipped practices, rarely engaged, had to have led the league in missed layups. I would have cut him a month into the season. Major downgrade to Lance.

Good news is now he can move on with his life and go do something else with 20% effort.