Hugh Evans, an NBA referee from 1972-2001, is the 17th official to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Hugh Evans always believed that his role was to be esteemed, not necessarily adored. However, as time passed, he became so proficient at gaining respect that he inevitably felt a significant amount of affection as well.
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. deemed it crucial to maintain a certain distance from the participants to eliminate any chance or even the hint of his integrity being compromised by a friendship. He managed to do this successfully, yet still ended up with a substantial number of work friends.
“Even when surrounded by coaches and various acquaintances, Hugh Evans would maintain an aura of professionalism,” said former NBA official Bob Delaney. “He would stride to the center of the floor, projecting a sense of ‘I’m here to accomplish my task and I understand that I shouldn’t be the focus.'”
Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “Players and coaches developed a liking for 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 top-tier. He was always prepared and ready to perform his job excellently. His preparation was superb. I was confident that every time he stepped onto the court, he would give his best.
— Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, on Hugh Evans’ officiating career
Evans, who passed away at the age of 81 in July due to congestive heart failure, will be officially enshrined on Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will be presenting him. It’s fair to say that their relationships with him developed more post his retirement than during his active career from 1973-2001.
“Evans’ widow, Cathy, mentioned to NBA.com last week that he preferred to keep things strictly professional,” she said. “However, with the players he admired, he built a relationship with a few of them.”
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 never had the opportunity to know him as a player. However, in his capacity as a referee, he exhibited unwavering integrity, an extensive understanding of the game, and top-notch professionalism. He was always prepared to fulfill his role with exemplary readiness. His meticulous preparation was truly impressive. I was confident that every time he entered the court, he would give his best.”
Discussing the highest-ranking officials in the NBA, he’s certainly among them. He was a straightforward individual. However, we were confident that he would ensure fairness in the game and make calls based on his unbiased judgment. Knowing him was indeed a pleasure.
A unique NBA officiating journey
Evans also holds the distinction of being the Hall’s first African-American referee, something his family and friends take pride in. Delaney, who put him forward for nomination, said, “I encountered Hugh Evans for the first time in 1985 and often heard people call him ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never comprehended why ‘Black’ was added, as he was undeniably one of the best NBA referees of all time, a sentiment shared by the Naismith Hall.”
Evans worked 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games, and four All-Star Games over the course of 28 NBA seasons. However, his path to the league was equally impressive as his accomplishments once he arrived. He never officiated a high school or college game, instead making the leap directly to the professional level.
During the 1988 NBA Finals, a game is refereed by Hugh Evans.
Evans, a robust man standing 6-foot-4, chose to pursue baseball after leaving North Carolina A&T. He spent three seasons playing for the San Francisco Giants’ farm system. Later, he relocated to New York and took up the role of director at a community center in Brooklyn. Here, he started officiating some recreational league games. Eventually, he brought his whistle to the renowned Rucker League, a summer blacktop where many of the game’s greatest players kept themselves fit.
He invested $100 in registration for an officials’ camp. After a few weeks, he failed the initial exam but subsequently passed. Additionally, he attracted the attention of a camp instructor.
Evans remembered years later, “He told me that pursuing college games would be a waste of time, as I already possessed the skills necessary to succeed in the professional leagues.”
In 1972, Evans, who was then 31, was signed to a part-time contract and was made a full-time employee the following year. Despite the challenges, he stated that it was beneficial that stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier, and others recognized him from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem.
Evans was among the pioneering Black referees in the NBA, with only a handful, including Ken Hudson (1968-72), preceding him. As expected, he encountered a level of heckling that many of his colleagues never experienced.
“Cathy Evans reminded, “You must keep in mind, this was during the ’70s and ’80s. I remember being at a game in Houston where a fan just wouldn’t stop. Hugh was never the type to engage with a fan. He would simply summon security.”
I recall contemplating, ‘This fellow is about to depart and he’s completely oblivious.’ Since I witnessed Hugh approaching the table followed by the guy at the table heading towards security. Before I knew it, they were escorting the youngster out.
“He was short on time and didn’t want to distract from the game. That’s the reason security is there – to let them handle such situations.”
Evans ‘only cared about the game’
In contrast to his aloofness from players and coaches, Evans was quite the opposite with his work colleagues. He eagerly served as a ready mentor and willing resource, keen to impart the knowledge he gained about the game overtime.
In a 1998 game, Hugh Evans converses with other referees.
“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring, especially for a younger referee,” said Delaney. “Imagine walking into an arena where no one recognizes you, and you have the urge to prove your worth. He provided the strength necessary for that.”
He possessed remarkable leadership skills, but he wasn’t the type to say ‘I ordered you to do this’ or ‘I commanded you to do that.’ Instead, he demonstrated the right actions. He encouraged you throughout, employing an effective teaching method to get his point across.
Crawford added, “There were some older guys who were very controlling, which made learning difficult. However, Hugh was completely different. He would simply say, ‘Do it.’ If something occurred on the floor, he had no issues with you approaching the scorers’ table, managing the clock, and communicating with the coaches.”
Back then, you didn’t have the Las Vegas Summer League or any of these platforms to practice refereeing. You had to learn it while doing the job. Some senior referees would harshly criticize you in the locker room if your refereeing style didn’t match theirs. However, Hubert was a relaxed person who only focused on the game.
“Duke, whose real name is Mike Callahan, and I are best friends. When he first started, he would always say, ‘I prefer working with Hugh rather than you.'”
Evans continued to contribute to the game even after retiring in 2001 from his role as a game official. He served as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. Despite his retirement, his dedication to giving back to the sport remained strong.
During the 2001 NBA Finals, Hugh Evans refereed his last NBA game.
Cathy Evans mentioned, “He would occasionally skip dinner during our travels because he wanted the novice referees to watch certain games. He would inform me, ‘I’m heading to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.’”
Even after he retired, the guys would still call him. They’d tell him, “I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. If you’re free, could you watch the game and send me some feedback?”
For a significant part of his career, Evans resided in Richmond, Va., before relocating to Florida and eventually Atlanta. An adept golfer, he frequently played with Sam Jones, a Boston Celtics Hall of Famer who passed away last December, and Luis Grillo, a former NBA referee.
In April, Evans, despite his deteriorating health, travelled to the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans with his wife Cathy and Delaney, who was powering his wheelchair. This trip was for the announcement of his induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame. Over that weekend, Evans received a warm welcome that compensated for what he would miss in Springfield this upcoming weekend. He was congratulated by former NBA players, coaches, and referees, and even fans stopped to greet him.
If you didn’t officiate the game to the liking of some older referees, they would severely reprimand you in the locker room. However, Hubert was subtle and solely focused on the game.
— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans
“Delaney expressed that Hugh seemed to be aware of his deteriorating condition. That’s why attending the Final Four event was crucial for him. Hugh understood that it would bring him recognition,” she stated.
Nobody truly desires to receive an award or recognition after their death. Luckily for Evans, the warmth he experienced at the Superdome, and in the three months leading up to his death, demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and sons Aaron and Todd, the joy the basketball world had for him.
Cathy shared, “He received an email from Russ Granik, the former NBA deputy commissioner. He also got phone calls from Matt Winick, a longtime league executive who was in charge of scheduling referees for years. He was inundated with calls and text messages. In fact, Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, texted to say that he and some other coaches had spent over an hour discussing Hugh.”
“I’m simply glad 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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