Tyreke Evans interview with Sam Amick

[=LarryLegend=]

On the plantar fasciitis in his left foot that kept him out of 19 games late last season after he underwent a laser procedure in mid-February:

"I'm 100 percent. My foot is fine. I'm just looking for this year to start and to go out there and play. When it's time, I'll go out there and just play like I played my first year in the league. [Last season] I was [always] thinking about it."

On the new-look roster, which now includes veteran small forward John Salmons, young big man J.J. Hickson and rookie guard Jimmer Fredette, and no longer includes veteran point guard Beno Udrih and two-year small forward Omri Casspi:

"It's a great look. Young team, up-and-coming. We had a knock on us that we're always young, but you don't want to always keep hearing that. We want to be a winning team. We just added pieces to the puzzle.
"We've got Jimmer, who's a great player and can shoot from anywhere if you watch his highlights. We've got J.J., who's a great player from Cleveland, and we got Salmons, a great 'three' man, a great wing man to have out there."
On whether he can blend his offensive style with that of Salmons, Fredette and guard Marcus Thornton (who is a restricted free agent but is expected to be re-signed):
"Definitely. I can score and I pass. I can do it all. I don't need to score. As long as we win, I'm happy. I've been winning all my life, and I'm not used to losing. We don't know yet [who will be the point guard]. The point or the shooting guard is good for me. I'm good at either spot, so if I get the ball on the rebound if I'm at the 'two,' I get up and go and bring it up. Whatever coach Paul [Westphal] wants me to do, I'll do."


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/07/15/drew.league.notebook/index.html

 

[sidney]

Amick short Q&A with Tyreke

Great news about his foot...

On the plantar fasciitis in his left foot that kept him out of 19 games late last season after he underwent a laser procedure in mid-February:
"I'm 100 percent. My foot is fine. I'm just looking for this year to start and to go out there and play. When it's time, I'll go out there and just play like I played my first year in the league. [Last season] I was [always] thinking about it."

On the new-look roster, which now includes veteran small forward John Salmons, young big man J.J. Hickson and rookie guard Jimmer Fredette, and no longer includes veteran point guard Beno Udrih and two-year small forward Omri Casspi:
"It's a great look. Young team, up-and-coming. We had a knock on us that we're always young, but you don't want to always keep hearing that. We want to be a winning team. We just added pieces to the puzzle.
"We've got Jimmer, who's a great player and can shoot from anywhere if you watch his highlights. We've got J.J., who's a great player from Cleveland, and we got Salmons, a great 'three' man, a great wing man to have out there."

On whether he can blend his offensive style with that of Salmons, Fredette and guard Marcus Thornton (who is a restricted free agent but is expected to be re-signed):
"Definitely. I can score and I pass. I can do it all. I don't need to score. As long as we win, I'm happy. I've been winning all my life, and I'm not used to losing. We don't know yet [who will be the point guard]. The point or the shooting guard is good for me. I'm good at either spot, so if I get the ball on the rebound if I'm at the 'two,' I get up and go and bring it up. Whatever coach Paul [Westphal] wants me to do, I'll do."


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...drew.league.notebook/index.html#ixzz1SCiIAqDo

 

[NoBonus]

Arg!!! Come on! I want to see the new look Kings ASAP!!! end this lockout nonsense!!!

 

[gunks]

He definately says the right things...I actually believe the kid.

I never hesitated to knock his dumb plays, but I've always felt that Reke's supposed selfishness is more about him wanting to win than him wanting to "get his". With time Reke should learn how to make better crunchtime decisions, as well as improve his ability to actually finish those hero plays that had a lot of us so aggravated last season. We're probably going to see some growing pains with this roster of guys who all want shots, might even see a malcontent shipped off for a roleplayer, but I think we're definately on the upswing.

Also...+1 to NoBonus' post.

 

[Spike]

I don't know that Evans had has the options to close out games like he does now. It'll be interesting to see how he adapts, but I feel pretty positive that he doesn't have to worry about 1 on 5 with the game on the line anymore.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I dont know how many of you guys are in LA .. or wherever the Drew league is, but the games over there are free .. I'd go if I lived closer.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

his handles looking good but.....airball on the layup! haha

 

[Lockehead]

So his feet are 100% then. That settles it, for now.

Also, ive said this before, i think Tyreke has a little bit of ADHD. He doesnt ever seem totally focused in an interview. I wonder if it translates onto the court.

 

[Telemachus]

So his feet are 100% then. That settles it, for now.

Also, ive said this before, i think Tyreke has a little bit of ADHD. He doesnt ever seem totally focused in an interview. I wonder if it translates onto the court.

To me he just doesn't look comfortable looking into the camera when he talks.

 

[Lockehead]

Probably. I just find it a bit odd. He blinks a lot too which might indicate a constant shift in attention. Im probably reading into this a bit too much heh.

 

[Dreadnought]

Doubt it's ADHD. He seems to just not be a camera guy. He almost had the most concise and short answers ever as a rookie. I'm glad he talks more than he used to.

 

[rainmaker]

Reke looks more comfortable in front of camera, but for a guy who appears to want to make money through endorsments, I'm surprised he hasn't taken a public speaking class or gotten coaching. You can't really understand what he says to the point he'd be considered for commercials. I wonder if he talks this quickly to friends. Does everyone have a hard time understanding him, or if he is easier to understand off the court is there hope he'll be able to slow it down a little at some point?