Now he is healthy, playing well, but appears to be beaten down by the constant losing that has been a consistent component of his young NBA career.
The Kings fell to 10-19 with Wednesday's 100-85 loss to the New York Knicks and you know who.
While Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin continues to be the No. 1 topic in sports, Evans was certainly an afterthought in the game, a distant figure to the sellout crowd of 19,763 at Madison Square Garden.
In a way, that was symbolic for both Evans and the Kings, who have received scant attention during his brief NBA career.
The loss to the Knicks brought the Kings' record to 59-134 in Evans' three seasons. Not only are the Kings young, they are still adjusting to new coach Keith Smart. After the team's 2-5 start, Smart replaced Paul Westphal.
"It's tough when you have a coaching change," Evans said in the Kings' locker room before Wednesday's game with the Knicks. "You just try to find a rhythm, and we are doing a good job."
That shouldn't suggest that Evans is satisfied with the situation, although he concedes that the losses are difficult to deal with.
"I have been losing since I have been on this team, and I know I am a winner, and I am doing whatever I can to help us win," Evans said.
He isn't consumed with individual scoring, just winning. In fact, Evans is averaging 17.3 points, the lowest total in his three seasons. He also is averaging 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Those are impressive numbers, and Evans says he hopes to one day become an all-star.
"That is definitely a goal," he said. "But it all starts with wins. You can't really be an all-star on a losing team."
For example, Andre Iguodala of the 76ers was selected recently to his first all-star team. The Sixers are 20-10, and Iguodala is averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.73 steals per game. He is also among the league's top defenders.
