Keenan Evans Returns to Court After 10 Months, Impresses in Preseason

Former Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Keenan Evans made his return to the basketball court on Tuesday after a 10-month absence due to a severe Achilles tendon tear. Evans, who previously suffered a similar injury to his right leg two years prior, sustained the left leg tear in November, just two minutes into his EuroLeague debut with Olympiacos. This latest injury followed a torn patellar tendon in May 2024 while playing for Zalgiris Kaunas. Despite his injury history, Evans signed a one-year deal with Zalgiris this summer with an option for another season and was immediately loaned to the London Lions, who will compete in the EuroCup. In his first game back, a preseason friendly against Lietkabelis, Evans played 13 minutes in an 89-83 loss, scoring 13 points with an efficient performance, including 2-of-4 three-pointers and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Greek media lauded his return, calling it one of the most important games of his career despite being a friendly. They highlighted his impressive "point-per-minute" average and his effectiveness, noting that his performance generated significant optimism for the upcoming season given his lengthy recovery period.