Tyreke Evans Really Wants the ROY Award

‘Reke tells the SacBee that the award is weighing heavily on his mind: “Tyreke Evans will be the happiest man in America when the season ends Tuesday and he is advised to sit near his phone because NBA officials are calling from Manhattan. The 6-foot-6 guard appears on the verge of winning the Rookie of the Year Award – and we temper the remarks only because even the most scientific pollsters get scooped once in a while, and because Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings continue to linger. Both players can present impassioned arguments for their selection, with Curry orchestrating Don Nelson’s march past Lenny Wilkens’ career coaching victories record and Jennings’ fast-forwarding the Bucks toward the playoffs. Meantime, here waits Tyreke, who seemed to be pressing in his past two outings, coincidentally, against two superb defensive clubs. He swears he isn’t unduly distracted by the hoopla, but you have to wonder. Some of those old bad habits reappeared. He drove into clusters of defenders. Slowly dribbled the ball upcourt. Committed a series of unforced turnovers. Particularly in the fourth quarter, he could have used a nap. ‘I feel like there’s a lot of stuff on me,’ Evans admitted after Wednesday’s practice, ‘but I’m trying not to worry about it. I’m trying not to jack shots up, just to get guys involved. I know I’m right there in the rookie race. It would be a real honor and it would help this program, would be good for the city … It’s like, ’20-5-5,’ he related, with a slight headshake. ‘You gotta get it.’ People tell me I need this many rebounds or that many points. But … the Rookie of the Year Award is the one I want, and I want to keep getting better. When I come back next year, I’m going to have a midrange jump shot.”‘