Tyreke Evans drives to the hoop - Photo Credit: Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

NBA star Tyreke Evans recently spoke about his return to the court following the NBA lockout, the current state of his Sacramento Kings and vision drills that help his game during his interview with Yahoo! Sports Radio on Sunday. Want to know what he thinks of his new teammate, former BYU phenom Jimmer Fredette, or his new head coach, Keith Smart? Curious about what his favorite sports vision drill is? Learn more by listening to Tyreke’s interview below.

If you catch the sports vision drill Tyreke used to do with his brother, email it to prteam@vsp.com and you’ll be entered to win an item autographed by Tyreke!

Click the gray arrow to play the interview:

About Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care:
VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Tyreke Evans. Tyreke plays professional basketball for the Sacramento Kings and was named 2010 Rookie of the Year. He’s the fourth rookie ever to average 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. The only other players to accomplish this were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Not only is good vision a critical component for being successful in sports, it’s also an important part of every day life. Be sure to follow VSP Vision Care on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with Tyreke’s Activities.

Tyreke Evans sports a vest on the USO tour

This past week, Tyreke Evans took a weeklong tour in Hawaii with the USO to show support for the troops. Tyreke joined seven other top names in basketball—Derrick Rose, D.J. Augustin, Al Horford, Robin Lopez, Brook Lopez, JaVale McGee, and Mike Miller—on the tour. Throughout the week, the stars led basketball clinics for children, toured military facilities, and played one-on-one with service members. The players also faced off in two intense games, with Tyreke scoring the winning point in one of them! I talked with Tyreke just after he returned and asked him a few questions about his experience.

Why did you get involved with the USO Hoops for Troops?
I got involved to support the troops and                                                                families who give up so much for the                                                                    freedom we enjoy.

Tyreke jumps to make a shot during one of the USO games. Photo courtesy of the USO.

What was your favorite part of the trip?
I liked talking to the troops about their war experiences. Most of the guys I talked to were around my age.

How did you like playing in the basketball games while you were there?
It was an honor to perform for our troops.

I saw some pictures of the players trying on military gear. What were you doing?
We played a simulated game at the barracks. Brook Lopez put on the armor piercing suit and got bit by the attack dog like they do in training.

Did you get to meet anyone in particular that stood out?
One of the wives told me that I was her husband’s favorite player. I played basketball with their son at the kids’ clinic, and she said her husband was currently stationed overseas and would be happy to hear about this.

What was the overall experience like for you?
I was a baby when my brother, Doc, served in Desert Storm. This made me appreciate him even more now that I’m older and understand what these troops do for the love of our country.

Check out some more photos from the event below. 

 

Tyreke gathers with troops and other players while in Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the USO.

Tyreke and other NBA stars hold a basketball clinic for children. Photo courtesy of the USO.

Tyreke and the other NBA players gather around a tank. Photo courtesy of the USO.

The children practice drills during a basketball clinic.

Tyreke signs autographs at one of the USO games.

For more information about the USO, to learn more about Hoops for Troops, or to see more photos of the tour, visit the USO homepage.

About Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care:
VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Tyreke Evans. Tyreke plays professional basketball for the Sacramento Kings and was named 2010 Rookie of the Year. He’s the fourth rookie ever to average 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. The only other players to accomplish this were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Not only is good vision a critical component for being successful in sports, it’s also an important part of every day life. Be sure to follow VSP Vision Care on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with Tyreke’s Activities.

Whether you’re watching a game on ESPN 3D or watching Avatar, be sure to make an appointment with your eye doctor if you or your children have difficulty watching 3D content. Your eye doctor can often treat and correct these eye conditions, but the earlier they are addressed, the better. Learn more by watching the video clip, and enter to win a 3D prize pack for four!

Click here to view the embedded video.

About Tyreke Evans and VSP Vision Care
VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Tyreke Evans. Tyreke plays professional basketball for the Sacramento Kings and was named 2010 Rookie of the Year. He’s the fourth rookie ever to average 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. The only other players to accomplish this were Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Not only is good vision a critical component for being successful in sports, it’s also an important part of every day life. Be sure to follow VSP Vision Care on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with Tyreke’s Activities.

VSP Sports Blogger, Alex Sigua

With the 2011 NBA Draft taking place tonight, I wanted to highlight some of the best players in NBA history when it comes to court vision. Court vision, as basketball aficionados would define it, is a player’s ability to see everything on the court during play, selecting the appropriate strategy and having the understanding and confidence to properly execute.

Jason Kidd

The current Dallas Mavericks point guard and new NBA Champion always comes up in conversations about players with the best court vision. Kidd ranks third all-time among NBA players in triple-doubles with 107, which is when a player records double figures in three statistical categories such as points, assists and rebounds. Many players say Jason has eyes in the back of his head.

Saying (Kidd) has eyes in the back of his head is true for him, because his vision is just … crazy,” said New Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor.

Steve Nash

The seven-time NBA All-Star has been lighting up basketball courts with his blazing speed and piercing court vision for 14 seasons. One of his most admirable qualities is the fact he continues to elevate his game the further he evolves in his career.

I admire what a great point guard he is and his longevity,” said New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul. “It’s tough going out there going against 20- and 21-year-olds night in and night out, and he’s still one of the toughest guys in the League to defend.

Larry Bird

While Bird may ultimately be recognized as one of the greatest shooters, if not THE greatest in NBA history, his legendary court vision is what helps set him apart as possibly the greatest small forward in NBA history.

Bird also had the uncanny ability to make his teammates better, as fellow Celtics players Kevin McHale and Robert Parish entered the Basketball Hall of Fame after teaming up with the player known as “Larry Legend” to win three NBA titles.

Larry Bird made every player on the court better and he made everybody believe they can win,” said Lakers great Magic Johnson.

Magic Johnson

When basketball fans think of the point guard position, it is arguable that Magic Johnson defined the position. He was a natural-born leader, floor general, scorer and one of the top distributors in NBA history. Magic revolutionized the position during his 13-year NBA career, as the tallest point guard in NBA history standing at 6’9”. His sublime talent and entertaining style of play elicited admiration from fans of any team.

There have been times when he has thrown passes and I wasn’t sure where he was going,” said former Lakers swingman Michael Cooper. “Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must’ve thrown it through somebody.

Pete Maravich

Basketball Hall of Famer “Pistol Pete” Maravich was a one-of-a-kind player during his era who led the transformation of basketball as it evolved into a more open, free-flowing style of play in the 1970s. The five-time NBA All-Star played 10 memorable seasons in the league, and his playground moves, circus shots and hotdog passes were considered outrageous because he dared to try things that no other player even thought about.

Fellow Hall of Famer Bill Walton once said, “like a master chess player, Pete Maravich saw things that nobody else did.”

Check out the latest EyeFiles webisode focused on sports vision featuring NBA star Tyreke Evans here.

MaryBeth R. is a member of VSP's Marketing Team and is an avid sports fan

Back in January, I blogged about the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade sporting protective eyewear in a game against the New York Knicks to help with light sensitivity from an earlier migraine headache. Looks like the goggles are back.

Wade suffered another migraine over the weekend and missed practice yesterday. He met up with the team this morning, goggles in place. He is expected to wear them in tonight’s game when the Heat host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Migraines are chronic headaches that can cause significant pain for hours or even days. Some can have symptoms like flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in an arm or leg. A migraine often causes nausea, vomiting, and, in Wade’s case, extreme sensitivity to light.

Interestingly enough, if Wade does in fact wear goggles tonight, he has a pair already approved by the NBA. Such approval was necessary to ensure that the lenses didn’t totally conceal his eyes from defenders, which could be an unfair advantage.

MaryBeth R. is a member of VSP's Marketing Team and is an avid sports fan

Hey, NBA fans—it’s All-Star Weekend and that means basketball’s best are converging in L.A. to put on an endless display of high-flying dunks and did-you-see-that moves. It also means we’re going to be bombarded with mid-season report cards on every sports show and Web site out there. So, that got me thinking: how’s Tyreke Evans stacking up?

A look at the numbers shows that Tyreke’s sophomore outing has so far been a repeat of his phenomenal rookie season. His combined average of points, rebounds and assists places him 1st among all sophomores and 31st overall. His per game stats look like this: 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. Last season, when he earned Rookie of the Year honors, Tyreke averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists a game. Can you say “consistency”?

None of this would be possible, of course, without great vision. Tyreke takes care of his eyes by making sure he gets an annual eye exam. You should, too. When planning your visit, keep these tips in mind.

Click here to view the embedded video.