:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65587947/1177983390.jpg.0.jpg)
It only took one game in his second NBA season for Jacob Evans III to prove that he was no longer the lost and ineffective wing that we saw during his rookie campaign. And it only took three games for that promise to be shown.
Evans strained his left adductor (a groin muscle) during the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors Monday night victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. He left the game with a bit of a limp, and did not return.
While there’s no specific timetable for Evans to return, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that the 22-year old guard “might be out for a little bit.” That’s usually coach speak for “will be out for a decent bit.”
Jacob Evans is out tonight with a left adductor strain, and Steve Kerr said in a @KNBR interview Evans “might be out for a little bit.” Kerr said it’s a shame because Evans had a great start to the season and they’ll miss him for “however long he’s out in the coming weeks.”
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) October 30, 2019
Evans was off to a strong start to the season. He was one of the few bright spots during the team’s opening night blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, registering 14 points and four rebounds, while shooting 4-6 from three-point range, matching his long distance output from his entire rookie year.
After receiving just 204 minutes last season, Evans had been averaging 20 minutes a night after two games, confirming that he would be part of the rotation during his sophomore year. So not only is it a bummer for Evans to face this setback, but it’s a blow to the Warriors as well.
Thankfully, it comes at as good a time as any, as Golden State is preparing to welcome offseason acquisitions Alec Burks and Willie Cauley-Stein, who will be debuting after missing the first three games (and the preseason) due to injuries.