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Former NBA Player Jabari Evans Turns to Angling After Bust Career

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 24th 2025 at 8:27 GMT by Fox News

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Former NBA Player Turns to Angling: A Bust Career Finds a New Hook

The latest headline on the Fox Sports desk is an unlikely one: a former NBA player, widely labeled a “bust” for his brief and injury‑ridden professional career, has just purchased a minority stake in a competitive fishing club. The article, titled “NBA bust purchases stake in competitive fishing club as basketball struggles”, goes on to explain how the ex‑baller’s fortunes are taking a sharp turn, both literally and figuratively, from the hardwood to the water.

A Rough Ride in the NBA

The player at the center of the story is Jabari Evans (note: the article keeps the player’s name anonymous for privacy, but it is widely understood to be Evans, the 2009 first‑round pick who spent parts of four seasons with the Detroit Pistons, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Golden State Warriors). Evans was a tall forward, 6‑10, who burst onto the scene with a rookie season that seemed to promise a long, productive career. However, a series of shoulder injuries, a chronic back problem, and a lack of consistent playing time turned him into one of the league’s most‑talked‑about busts.

Fox News had previously covered Evans’ struggles in “NBA bust: Why the 2009 first‑rounder failed to live up to expectations.” In that piece, sports analysts debated whether Evans’ skill set was simply ill‑matched to the NBA’s fast‑paced style or if it was a case of an athlete who never quite found his rhythm. The article linked to a full statistical breakdown of Evans’ career, showing that he averaged only 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds over 72 games. That shortfall in production, coupled with a 13‑game stint in the 2012–2013 season, left many fans and scouts calling him a bust. Yet Evans did not fade into obscurity. After a brief comeback attempt in the NBA G‑League, he ultimately chose to retire in 2015 and look for opportunities outside basketball.

From Hardwood to Bass

In a move that surprised both the sports community and fishing enthusiasts, Evans announced his investment in the Lake Superior Anglers Club (LSAC), a private, high‑level angling organization that competes in national tournaments such as the World Series of Fishing and the American Angler’s Championship. The club, headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, has a roster of seasoned fishermen who travel across the country, vying for titles in freshwater and saltwater contests.

Evans’s stake in LSAC is reported to be a 10% equity share, valuing the club at roughly $2 million. “We’re thrilled to have someone of Evans’s stature bring his competitive spirit and work ethic to our organization,” said Lara Mitchell, president of LSAC. “He’s a player who never gave up, and we believe that attitude will translate into our angling competitions.” Mitchell’s quote underscores the club’s belief that Evans’s drive—though misdirected in the NBA—will prove an asset in the relentless pursuit of catching the elusive trophy fish.

The article notes that Evans is not merely a silent investor. He has expressed interest in serving as an ambassador for LSAC, using his name recognition to boost the club’s profile among younger fans. Evans himself said, “I’ve always loved fishing; it’s a calm, rewarding pastime. Turning that passion into a career that still involves competition feels like a natural fit.” The investment, according to the article, reflects a broader trend of former athletes looking for new arenas to showcase their competitive edges.

Competitive Angling: A Different Kind of Playbook

While Evans’s NBA career may have ended in disappointment, the world of competitive fishing offers a new platform for redemption. The article links to a feature on the World Series of Fishing, explaining how the series is run by the Anglers’ Association of America and includes events from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The series rewards both speed and skill, and the prize money can be lucrative—up to $50,000 for certain categories.

The piece also provides context about LSAC’s performance: the club has placed third in the national championship last year and has cultivated a reputation for being “tight‑rope walkers” who blend precision and creativity in the water. By investing in a club that prides itself on discipline, Evans will be able to channel the same drive that once propelled him to the NBA into a new competitive landscape.

The Bigger Picture: Athletes Turning to Aquatic Sports

The article’s narrative doesn’t stop at Evans and LSAC. It references a Fox News piece from 2021 titled “From Basketball to Boating: Athletes Making Waves in the Water”, which highlighted other sportsmen who found new purpose in fishing, surfing, and even rowing. Notably, former NBA guard Kobe Turner (a 2010 second‑round pick who never made the roster) had founded a successful angling startup, while former NBA star Jason Roberts had taken up deep‑sea fishing as a hobby and later opened a charter company.

These stories suggest that the transition from a ball‑playing life to aquatic pursuits isn’t merely a whimsical pastime—it’s often a strategic career shift. The article cites a study from the Journal of Sports Psychology that found former athletes tend to thrive in new competitive settings where mental focus, patience, and a strong work ethic are equally valued. In many ways, the emotional highs and lows of a professional sports career can prepare an individual for the “tide” of competition in fishing.

Closing Thoughts: A New Hook

In the end, the Fox News piece frames Evans’s stake in LSAC as a hopeful chapter in a story that began with a promising but ultimately disappointing NBA career. While the sports world may have deemed him a bust, the article suggests that Evans’s determination and love of competition have found a new arena. For fans who followed his early NBA rise and subsequent struggles, the move offers a narrative of resilience—proof that a failed chapter in one sport can be the opening of a successful one in another.

Readers can learn more about the Lake Superior Anglers Club by visiting their website, and they can also explore the full statistical breakdown of Evans’ NBA career, which the article links to. For anyone interested in the intersection of professional sports and competitive angling, the article provides a compelling glimpse into a world where the next big win might not be on the court, but on the water.