Eleven years into an N.B.A. career that nearly wasn’t, Evans still has not developed any sort of offensive game. He is averaging 3 points per game and rarely even looks to score. When the ball hits his hands, Evans’s first instinct is to pass it to someone who can, as quickly as possible. (“It’s like the first time someone holds a really small infant,” Barry said. “ ‘O.K., here, take it back.’ ”)

But Evans does all sorts of things that cannot be quantified. How valuable is it to the Nets that Brook Lopez, their notoriously soft center, is now hitting Evans first in practice? That Lopez has become a more assertive shot blocker? How does one value the ability to unnerve and annoy opponents?

“Better to play with him than against him, I can tell you that,” the Nets’ Andray Blatche said.

In a Sports Illustrated poll last season, N.B.A. players named Evans the dirtiest player in the league, ahead of Kevin Garnett and Metta World Peace. Barry compares Evans to Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer.

This is, depending on one’s point of view, good company.

“I look at it like they respect me,” Evans said. “And pretty much they know when we play each other, it’s time to have some fun.”

He has earned more than $28 million, but the kid from the Pensacola Village projects has hardly changed. His left biceps features a large tattoo of the state of Florida and the acronym PCV.

Evans straightens a Florida Marlins cap, one with a large F on the front, and smiles.

“I’m Pensacola for life.”