Trust is a key ingredient for the effective functioning of performance-oriented teams. Despite the advancements made pertaining to our understanding of trust, this field has also been described as fragmented at best, with competing schools of thought leading to conceptual confusion. To consolidate this field, exploring the evolution of trust within performance-oriented teams research that has shaped our perspectives to date is worthwhile. A two-phase systematic review process was undertaken. First, a citation network analysis (CNA) was conducted to identify the most prominent authors, articles, and journals. Both descriptive and knowledge structures (i.e., conceptual, intellectual, and social perspectives) of the field were explored. Second, a critical review of the most influential articles identified in the CNA was examined in relation to conceptual contributions. The main themes of the critical review included: (a) dominant trust perspectives, (b) the over-engagement in conceptual developments, (c) early considerations guiding future trust research, and (d) embracing the complexities of trust. Altogether, these findings reinforce the importance of cross-discipline collaboration and purposeful exploration of trust across team contexts, as researchers seek to develop a unified pathway for future trust within performance-oriented teams research.