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It was really Reggie Evans' second practice of the new season, but he played like it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

"I want to win in practice and in real games," said Evans, who spoke to the media for the first time since he signed the Sonics one-year qualifying offer on Tuesday and reported to training camp. "I'm not a pretend type of person to show the fans, 'Oh, he looks like he cares.' I'm a real person. I respect the game and I respect myself."

"I'm not a pretend type of person to show the fans, 'Oh, he looks like he cares.' I'm a real person. I respect the game and I respect myself." Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

"That's him," said Sonics Coach Bob Weiss. "That's why he's been a starter for us and why he's been successful at his size at what he does, is his emotion and his intensity."

Evans, like Sonics teammates Ronald "Flip" Murray and Vladimir Radmanovic, had hoped to sign a long-term deal this summer as a restricted free agent. Despite some interest from other teams and reported longer deals offered by the Sonics, he chose to play this year for the qualifying offer and take his chances as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

"It's cool," said Evans. "I've been in this situation before. I came into the league on a one-year deal. It's a blessing to still play the sport I love. To even put on a jersey with a Jerry West symbol on it, that's a blessing.

"I wasn't upset. I just have to look at it in a positive way. It was not meant for me right now. I've just got to work hard - that's all I can do."

Evans arrived at training camp to find his starting power forward position - Evans started all 79 games he played in 2004-05 - open to competition. With Weiss preferring to bring Nick Collison and Danny Fortson off the bench, Evans and Radmanovic are the primary competitors for the power forward spot. Evans doesn't mind having to fight for his position once again.

"I don't want anybody giving me anything," Evans said. "Coach Nate (McMillan) always called me every summer to say, 'Hey, you're going to have to compete for your starting position.' I was like, 'Cool.' I've just got to work hard for it, like I've been doing."

Despite starting more than 75% of the 221 games he's played in three seasons in Seattle, Evans has never opened training camp as the clear starter at power forward. In 2002, Evans was just trying to make the team as an undrafted free agent, but he played so well he ended up starting on Opening Night. In 2003, Radmanovic held the starting power forward spot early in the season, though Evans started down the stretch. Last year, the job was open before Evans quickly claimed it with his fine play during training camp.

"Yes, it's important to start, because I've been starting," Evans explained. "But at the end of the day, I'm just going to have to work hard to start. I'm not asking Coach Weiss to give me anything. I'm not Ray Allen, I'm not Rashard Lewis, who are already getting it. I've still got to prove myself - I'm cool with that, I'm used to that."

Evans' foray into restricted free agency this summer had its positives and negatives. He was pleased to hear a handful of stars, including Jason Kidd and Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets, reach out to him through intermediaries to express their interest in having Evans on their team.

"I just feel like, for the type of players like that to be asking me to play on their team, I feel like I've got respect around the league," he said. "I never knew how hard I had to work to earn that respect. When I first came into the league, I didn't have no respect on the court. That lets me know I'm not wasting my time in the summer time."

At the same time, Evans was disappointed to hear many sources question his offensive ability when, as he points out, he was merely doing what his coach had asked him to do.

"That's one thing that frustrated me during the summer time, to hear so many people talking about how I have no offensive game, I don't do this offensively, I don't do that offensively," said Evans. "Coach Nate told me not to shoot the ball. I was doing what he wanted me to do to do. That's why it was so frustrating. I was doing my role."

Did playing that role hurt Evans?

"In a way, it did. But from a team aspect - for doing what's best for my team - it didn't hurt me.

"I know myself. I know my capabilities. I know what's best for Reggie Evans." Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty

"I know myself. I know my capabilities. I know I can't shoot 3s, so I'm not going to shoot 3s. I know I'm not a point guard. I'm not ready to fight Luke (Ridnour) for his position. I know what's best for Reggie Evans. Nobody knows Reggie Evans like I know Reggie Evans."

Weiss indicated that the Sonics faster tempo this season should result in a few more good looks for Evans in transition.

"He's supposed to do what he does, but Reggie is quite productive when he gets the ball in the low post," noted Weiss. "He gets a lot of people in foul trouble. He's not a bad passer. Now in the set offense, I don't know that there will be many times we call a play specifically for Reggie. But with our running style and spreading the floor and throwing the ball in to him in a transition-type situation, I'm definitely not worried about doing that. As hard as he fights for position and as good a runner as he is, I imagine he will be getting the ball a little more in transition."

After this season, Evans will take another shot at free agency, but he indicated his ideal situation would be to stay in Seattle long-term.

"I love it here," he said. "I love this city. My girl loves this city. I love the fans. I love the team. I would love to just be able to play for one team and stay with one team. But at the end of the day, I have to respect the business too. Whatever happens. But would I love to stay in Seattle? Yeah. I would rather not play for another organization."

In the meantime, Evans will once again be working hard on defense and under the boards and making practice more interesting for everyone.

"I love playing against Reggie, because he gets you prepared for other guys in the league," said Sonics newcomer Mikki Moore, who battled Evans during 2003 training camp. "I hated playing against him last year because I couldn't enjoy it like I can every day. Today and the rest of the season, going against him and Vitaly (Potapenko) and Fortson is going to help me get used to banging with big guys."