Guard Tyreke Evans reinstated to NBA three years after drug ban

Tyreke Evans hasn't played in an NBA game since April 2019, but he's finally eligible to make his return after he was reinstated Monday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Evans, 32, was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2010 during his time with the Sacramento Kings before later stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies. His suspension from the league came shortly after the end of his first and only season with the Indiana Pacers.

While a return from such a lengthy ban is rare, it's not unprecedented. Chris Andersen was suspended by the NBA in January 2006 for violation of the league anti-drug policy and didn't return until he was reinstated and signed with the Denver Nuggets for the 2008-09 season.

News that Evans was seeking to be reinstated broke in December amid a breakout of COVID-19 that saw several former NBA players get another chance to play in the league. Now a couple months later, not many teams are struggling to field their usual starting lineup. Still, Evans was a quality player before his ban with a career average of 15.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game.

According to Wojnarowski, Evans is now a free agent and can sign with a team as soon as Friday.