The NBA announced Friday that guard Tyreke Evans has been dismissed and disqualified from the league for violating the terms of the NBA/National Basketball Players Association anti-drug program.
Under the program, he is eligible to apply for reinstatement in two years.
Evans, 29, played for the Indiana Pacers this season, averaging 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.3 minutes per game. He was due to become a free agent this offseason.
The Pacers said they were informed Friday of Evans' discipline.
"We take these matters seriously and will reach out to Tyreke to offer our support," the team said in a statement.
Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard declined further comment at the NBA draft combine in Chicago.
According to the NBA's guidelines, a player can be dismissed and disqualified from the league for testing positive for a drug of abuse or if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to the use, possession or distribution of a drug of abuse.
Among players who have been banned under the policy, the most recent are O.J. Mayo and Chris Andersen. Others include Roy Tarpley, Richard Dumas, Micheal Ray Richardson, Lewis Lloyd, Duane Washington and Stanley Roberts, many of whom were eventually reinstated.
A player can be reinstated only with the approval of both the NBA and the players' association.
Evans has played 10 seasons in the NBA and was Rookie of the Year in 2009-10. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings out of Memphis with the fourth overall pick in 2009. He also has played for the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies.
He sat out one game early in the season for violating team rules and issued an apology then for being late to practice. He also missed three games late in the year due to personal reasons and a respiratory infection.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
