At age 35, Reggie Evans has carried multiple names.
There’s “Evans,” the moniker emblazoned on the jersey of an NBA rebounding machine who spent 13 seasons with seven teams, posting some of the best rebounding seasons ever. That same name glistens on a placard along with the key to the city of Pensacola, Fla., which the mayor awarded him for the time and help he has given to his childhood home.
But as Evans waits in perhaps futile hope of seeing the name of an NBA general manager pop up on his caller ID, giving him one more shot to extend his career, he has had time to reflect on his biggest, and perhaps most unlikely, rebound: from a time when he was known as “Slim” and he peddled crack cocaine to support his family as his mother struggled to meet monthly bills.