NBA Roundup: Everybody’s Hurt

It’s been a few weeks, but it’s time to check in on all the former Oklahoma State ballers currently competing in the NBA, and…. actually. They’re all hurt. All three of them.

Jawun Evans

Last Week: 2-3

Evans has missed the Clipper’s last four games with a sore abdominal injury. So far the Clippers have not released any information regarding reason for the injury or its severity.

Hopefully he returns soon, as the rookie has been showing improvement as the season has progressed, increasing all of his stats.

Things will be very different in L.A. when Evans returns to the court, with the news that the Clippers have traded (!!) Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons for… Avery Bradley, a bag of beans, and some draft picks.

Marcus Smart

Last Week: 1-3

Sticking with our stories of injuries, Smart is out for the next two weeks with a hand laceration. He got after he “swiped at and hit a picture frame on the wall,” according to a tweet Smart posted on Jan. 26.

I want to take this time to express my sincerest apologies to my teammates, coaches, and most of all the amazing Boston Celtics fans. I'm embarrassed and disappointed in my actions. I swiped at and hit a picture frame on the wall. I feel like I let all y'all down

— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) January 26, 2018

As to why he slapped a picture frame? Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported that Smart’s alleged reasoning was due to now-deleted pictures posted on social media by a “female acquaintance.”

I’d rather end this on a positive note, so why don’t you read about the relationship Smart developed with a young boy while he was fighting leukemia in Boston Children’s Hospital.

Tony Allen

Last Wee: 4-1

Tony Allen continues to recover from an injury, and apparently suffered a setback that’s further delayed his return to the court.

But that hasn’t kept the grizzled veteran out of the news.

Allen offered his thoughts on former teammate Paul Pierce, who will have his jersey retired by the Boston Celtics on February 11th. Allen credited Pierce for — get this — picking on him.

Tony Allen explains benefit of being picked on by Paul Pierce: “He was good bully because I probably might leave practice and go with him and get a nice Louis Vuitton bookbag or something. He was just that type of guy, big-hearted, tough love. Salute to Paul Pierce. The Truth.”

Allen of course won a championship with Pierce and the Boston Celtics back in 2008 before going to Memphis in 2009 to help develop the team’s “Grit-and-Grind” identity.