Hugh Evans, an NBA referee from 1972-2001, has become the 17th official to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Hugh Evans always believed that his role was to command respect, not affection. However, as he excelled at earning respect, he couldn’t help but also feel much affection from others.
Evans, who becomes the 17th referee enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend and just the seventh for his work in the NBA, focused so heavily on the integrity of his role as a game official, he stunted some of the relationships he might have had with players and coaches.
The native of Squire, W.Va., felt it was crucial to maintain a professional distance from the participants to eliminate any chance or implication of bias through personal relationships. Despite his efforts, he still managed to make a lot of friends at work.
“Hugh Evans would stride to the center of the floor,” stated Bob Delaney, a former NBA official, “regardless of his familiarity with the coaches and various individuals present, he carried with him a sense of ‘I’m here to perform a task and I’m aware I’m not meant to be the focal point.'”
Longtime referee, Joey Crawford, remarked, “Players and coaches truly warmed up to him due to his pleasant demeanor. He was completely different from me, which I suppose is why they liked him.”
His integrity, knowledge of the game, and professionalism as a referee were all top-tier. This man was consistently prepared and ready for the job. His preparation was commendable. Every time he set foot on the court, I knew we were going to receive his best efforts.
— Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, on Hugh Evans’ officiating career
Evans, who passed away in July at the age of 81 due to congestive heart failure, will officially be enshrined on Saturday night. His presenters for the ceremony will be Reggie Miller and George Gervin. It’s fair to suggest that their relationships with Evans developed more following his retirement, rather than during his active career from 1973 to 2001.
“Evans’ widow, Cathy, stated to NBA.com last week that he preferred to maintain a professional stance. However, he established relationships with some of the players he respected,”
Anyone who knows a little about Lenny Wilkens, that rare Hall member elected both as a player (1989) and a coach (1998), can guess that Wilkens appreciated Evans’ dignity and professionalism. Coincidentally, Evans — an excellent athlete from North Carolina A&T — had been selected as the 79th pick in the 1963 Draft by the St. Louis Hawks, the team for which Wilkens starred. Evans never made the roster, though.
Wilkens stated, “I wasn’t acquainted with him as a player. However, in his role as a referee, he demonstrated top-tier integrity, game knowledge, and professionalism. He was invariably prepared to fulfill his duties. His preparation was exemplary. I was confident that we would receive his best performance every time he set foot on the court.”
Discussing the highest-ranking officials in the NBA, he is definitely among them. He was straightforward and business-like. However, we were certain that he would officiate the game fairly and according to his judgment. Knowing him was truly an honor.
A unique NBA officiating journey
Evans holds the honor of being the first African-American referee in the Hall’s 17, an achievement that his family and friends take great pride in. Delaney, who nominated him, stated, “I first encountered Hugh Evans in 1985 and often heard people describe him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never really grasped why the term ‘Black’ was added – he is simply one of the greatest NBA referees of all time, a sentiment that the Naismith Hall shares.”
Evans served in the NBA for 28 seasons, officiating 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games, and four All-Star Games. However, his journey to the league was as remarkable as his achievements therein: he never officiated a high school or college game but directly made the leap to the professional level.
During the 1988 NBA Finals, a game is refereed by Hugh Evans.
Evans, a solidly built individual standing at 6-foot-4, chose to pursue a career in baseball after departing from North Carolina A&T. He played for three seasons in the minor leagues for the San Francisco Giants. Later, he relocated to New York and took up the role of director at a community center in Brooklyn. Here, he refereed some recreational league games and eventually, he brought his officiating skills to the renowned Rucker League. This is a place where many of basketball’s legendary players keep fit during the summer on the blacktop courts.
He invested $100 in an officials’ camp registration. A few weeks later, despite initially failing, he managed to pass the first exam. Moreover, he drew the attention of a camp instructor.
Evans remembered years later, “He told me that pursuing college games would be a waste of time because I already possessed the skills necessary to succeed in the pros.”
In 1972, Evans, who was then 31, was signed on a part-time contract, and was promoted to full-time the subsequent year. Despite the challenges, he found reassurance in the recognition from basketball stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier, and others who remembered him from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem.
Evans was among the initial Black referees in the NBA, with only Ken Hudson (1968-72) and a handful of others preceding him. As expected, he encountered a type of heckling that most of his colleagues were spared from.
“Cathy Evans reminded, “Keep in mind, that was during the ’70s and ’80s. I remember attending a game in Houston where a fan wouldn’t stop talking. Hugh, however, never engaged in back-and-forth with a fan. He would simply summon security.”
I recall thinking to myself, ‘This man is about to be escorted out, and he’s oblivious to it.’ I had observed Hugh approaching the table before I noticed the man from the table heading to security. Before I knew it, they were leading the young man away.
“He lacked time and didn’t wish to distract from the game. That’s the purpose of security – allowing them to perform their duties.”
Evans ‘only cared about the game’
Contrary to how he kept his distance from players and coaches, Evans was very involved with his colleagues. He was always ready to mentor and share his knowledge about the game, making him a valuable resource for those he worked with.
In 1998, Hugh Evans converses with other referees during a game.
Delaney said, “His demeanor was incredibly reassuring, especially for a younger referee. When you enter an arena where you’re unknown, there’s a desire to prove your worth. He provided that sort of strength.”
Despite possessing strong leadership qualities, he was not the type to issue orders. Instead, he acted as a role model, demonstrating the necessary actions. He encouraged and taught effectively, thereby making his point.
Crawford further added, “Some older colleagues were control freaks, making the learning process difficult. However, Hugh was entirely different. He would simply say, ‘Go ahead.’ If an issue arose on the floor, he had no issue with you addressing it yourself, whether it was managing the clock at the scorers’ table or communicating with the coaches.”
Back in the day, opportunities like the Las Vegas [Summer League] didn’t exist for aspiring referees to hone their skills; learning had to happen on the job. Some veteran referees would harshly criticize you in the locker room if you didn’t referee like them. Hubert, however, was laid-back and only focused on the game.
“Duke, also known as Mike Callahan, who is my best friend, always said that he preferred working with Hugh over me when he first started.”
Evans, having resigned as a game official in 2001, served as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. However, even in retirement, he remained committed to contributing to the game.
During the 2001 NBA Finals, Hugh Evans refereed his last NBA game.
“Cathy Evans shared, “There were instances when I accompanied him on his travels. Often, he would skip dinner because he wanted the young referees to observe certain games. He would tell me, ‘I’m heading to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.'”
“Even after he retired, the guys continued to call him. They’d ask him, ‘I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. If you’re available, could you watch the game and send me some feedback?'”
Throughout much of his career, Evans resided in Richmond, Va., before relocating to Florida and eventually Atlanta. He was a skilled golfer who often played with Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Sam Jones (who passed away the previous December) and ex-NBA referee Luis Grillo.
In April, when Evans was battling poor health, he, his wife Cathy, and Delaney – who operated Evans’ wheelchair – attended the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans for the announcement of his induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame. The warm welcome he received that weekend from former NBA players, coaches, referees and even fans who stopped to greet him, compensated for what he would miss out on the following weekend in Springfield.
If you didn’t officiate the way some veteran referees preferred, they could chew you out in the locker room. Hubert, on the other hand, was subtle and only concerned about the game.
— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans
“Delaney said, ‘Hugh seemed to realize he was struggling, which is why attending the Final Four was so crucial. He understood that’s where he would receive recognition.'”
Nobody truly desires to receive an award or recognition after their death. Luckily for Evans, the affection he experienced at the Superdome and in the three months prior to his death demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and their sons Aaron and Todd, the joy the basketball community took in his successes.
Cathy said, “He received an email from Russ Granik, the former NBA deputy commissioner. He also received phone calls from Matt Winick, a longtime league exec who was in charge of the referees’ scheduling for many years. He was inundated with calls and text messages. In fact, Doc Rivers, the coach for Philadelphia, texted him saying that he and a few other coaches had spent over an hour discussing Hugh.”
“I’m simply relieved that he was aware he was going in.”
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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