Sacramento Kings: Should Reggie Evans Have A Bigger Role?

For the last year or so a lot of the talk surrounding the Sacramento Kings has focused on the team’s glut of power forwards, or perhaps more accurately, their inability to settle on one. With five power forwards currently on the roster, it’s a natural instinct to think that one of those guys can surely be productive. Although he rarely garners too much attention, could Reggie Evans actually be that guy?

At 34 years old, Evans is now a veteran, but that should do little to alter his potential impact. Evans has always been more impactful than he was skilled, and in many ways that could be what the Kings need to slot in at power forward. With DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay already making for a skilled scoring tandem, what Sacramento really needs is some grit alongside them. With that in mind, there’s arguably no one in the NBA that does the dirty work better than Evans.

Evans’ game is all about energy and tenacity, and that’s something that the Kings could use. With a roster packed with youth, Evans’ experience and attitude could be invaluable. If Mike Malone wants to build a team with a work ethic, who are prepared to leave everything out on the court to try and win, there could be no better example than Evans.

The Florida native has an incredibly limited offensive game, and that has undoubtedly held him back in his NBA career. Yet at the same time, not many 6’8″ guys end up averaging more than ten rebounds per game for a season, or can boast of career per 36 minute rebounding averages of 13.3 either.

Let’s take a closer look at three reasons why Evans deserves a bigger role in Sacramento next season.