by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni
Neither Tyreke Evans nor the New Orleans Pelicans’ PR staff would comment on why the guard didn’t play Sunday night, in a 93-81 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
It’s pretty obvious, though, that there’s a growing rift between Evans and head coach Monty Williams.
Williams would only say that the DNP-CD was due to an “internal” issue, and the frustrated Evans claims his role on the team has never been clarified.
Per Sheridan Hoops:
“He’s trying to figure me out still,” Evans said of his head coach before the game. “Most of the guys that came here are pretty much new [to the team] so he’s trying to fit everybody in and put me in the best position he can.”
“No, we never talked about (my role),” Evans said. “I haven’t talked to him about it. We talk here and there but I haven’t talked to him about what role is whose on the team.”
Asked if the communication with Williams has to improve, Evans said that it needed to improve. “It has to get better. We have to know our roles on the team.”
The Pelicans (22-28) inked ‘Reke to a four year deal worth $44 million in a sign-and-trade with Sacramento last summer, and despite a willingness to come off the bench, he has struggled to fit in with his new squad.
Evans’ overall shooting percentage has plummeted by 7.7% from last season, and he’s connecting on a horrific 15.2% from beyond the arc.
In addition to being confused about his role, Evans adds that he feels overloaded with responsibilities on the floor, and increasingly anxious to score in limited playing time.
Not-so-fun times in NOLA.
