-- Joins Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James --
SACRAMENTO, CA, April 12, 2010 ---- Sacramento Kings rookie guard Tyreke Evans joined Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to average 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game in their rookie seasons. Evans entered tonight’s contest against the Houston Rockets needing 24 points and accomplished the feat with two made free throws with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t think we need the numbers to validate what a great season Tyreke has had,” Kings Head Coach Paul Westphal said. “He’s been the most consistent rookie I’ve ever been around. The 20-5-5 is really just icing on the cake for what a complete ballplayer he is and what a mature ballplayer he is. I’m sure it won’t be the last time he achieves all those milestones.”
A candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year, Evans also joins LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players this season to average more than 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Evans also becomes only the seventh player in the last five years to accomplish the feat.
Evans leads the Kings in scoring and assists, the only rookie this season to lead his team in both categories. He is the only rookie in the Sacramento era to lead the team in scoring and only the fourth player to lead the Kings in assists in a season. Evans has established himself as one of the premier rookies this season, posting 41 20-point games, tops among rookies. He has also scored 30 or more points on four occasions. On March 10, against the Toronto Raptors, Evans became the first rookie in the Sacramento era to record a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Evans narrowly missed getting triple-doubles in two other games, falling just one assist shy in one game and one rebound short in another.
Evans began his rookie season winning back-to-back Western Conference T-Mobile Rookie of the Month awards for October/November and December. During NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas, Evans was named the Most Valuable Player of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam in helping lead the Rookies over the Sophomores.
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