Warriors rookie Jacob Evans defends his jump shot: ‘When the season starts …'

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WALNUT CREEK -- After spending about 90 minutes cheerfully engaging a small army of hyperactive youngsters at a Warriors camp this week, Jacob Evans III was ready to defend himself.

The rookie guard faces an allegation sure to stalk him until he’s able to clear himself. He is being accused of entering the NBA with a defective, if not broken, jump shot.

That is the charge after Evans’ J failed to impress during NBA Summer League last month. Bothered by a toe injury and rib contusion that caused him to miss four of the team’s eight games, he shot 34.5 percent (10-of-29) from the field, including 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from beyond the arc.

Such ghastly numbers caught the attention of some within the Warriors organization. It also was enough for the Dub Nation anxiety meter to start humming.

“I know,” Evans told NBC Sports Bay Area. “And I have no clue what was going on.

“It’s all right, though. This is the first time I’ve ever heard anything about my jump shot. I shot 40-plus in college from 3. But if you miss a few, that’s what comes with it. When you miss some, they’re always going to critique it.”

Though Evans shot 37.7 percent from deep over three seasons at the University of Cincinnati, his most impressive number came as a sophomore, when he drained triples at a rate of 41.8 percent.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr and general manager Bob Myers expressed little concern about Evans’ shooting, though, pointing out his more obvious assets, such as defensive awareness and overall basketball intellect.

Assistant coach Willie Green, who handled head-coaching duties during Summer League, also sounded no sirens related to Evans’ shot. Green did, however, suggest there might be a need for the Warriors' first-round draft pick to adjust his shooting mechanics.

“He missed some shots, and he needs to get into his shot a little bit,” Green said after a California Classic game last month in Sacramento. “It came up short. But that’s something we can clean up later.”

Asked if he feels there is a need to make changes, Evans dissents.

“Nah,” he says. “Just put in more work in the gym. That’s always my answer to problems like that.”

Should he acquit himself -- and his jump shot -- in the preseason, which begins Sept. 29, Evans could find himself getting minutes once the regular season begins Oct. 16. One of the few areas where the Warriors have a clear need is bench scoring.

Evans firmly believes he can contribute. His shot, he asserts, is going to come. His advice to the worriers is to relax.

“When the season starts and I’m knocking them down,” he said, “I want to hear the same criticisms.”

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