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 command respect rather than affection. However, as he became increasingly proficient at earning respect, he couldn’t help but notice a surge in his popularity.
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 distance with the participants to eliminate any chance or even a hint of being compromised by friendship. He managed to do so effectively, yet he still ended up with many work friends.
“Even when surrounded by coaches and familiar faces, Hugh Evans would stride to the center of the floor with an air of professionalism,” said Bob Delaney, a former NBA official. “He exuded a sense of ‘I’m here to carry out my duties, and I understand that I’m not meant to be the focal point.'”
Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “He was well-liked by players and coaches because of his amicable nature. He was completely different from me, which I suppose is why they favored him.”
His integrity, knowledge of the game, and professionalism as a referee were all top tier. He was always ready to perform his duties. His preparation was exemplary and I knew he would always give his best whenever he stepped on the floor.
— Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, on Hugh Evans’ officiating career
Evans, who passed away at 81 in July due to congestive heart failure, will be officially enshrined Saturday night. His presenters, Reggie Miller and George Gervin, can confidently be said to have developed a stronger connection with him post his retirement rather than during his active career from 1973-2001.
“Evans’ widow, Cathy, stated to NBA.com last week that he preferred to keep things professional. However, he managed to develop a relationship 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 expressed, “I wasn’t familiar with him as a player. However, as a referee, his professionalism, game knowledge, and integrity were all first-rate. He was consistently prepared to perform his duties. His readiness was outstanding. I was certain that every time he set foot on the court, we would receive his utmost effort.
Discussing the highest-ranking officials in the NBA, he is undoubtedly among them. He was a straightforward person. Yet, we were certain that he would ensure fairness in the game and would make judgments based on what he perceived. It was an honor to have known him.
A unique NBA officiating journey
Evans also holds the distinction of being the first African-American referee among the 17 in the Hall, a fact that fills his family and friends with pride. Delaney, who put forward his nomination, mentioned, “I got acquainted with Hugh Evans in 1985. People often referred to him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never really understood why they felt the need to specify ‘Black’ – he was one of the finest NBA referees of all time, a sentiment echoed by the Naismith Hall.”
Evans had an impressive career in the NBA, serving in 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games, and four All-Star Games over 28 seasons. However, his entry into the league was equally notable. He made an unusual leap directly to the professional level, bypassing any experience in high school or college games.
During the 1988 NBA Finals, a game is refereed by Hugh Evans.
Evans, a robust 6-foot-4 man, chose baseball after exiting North Carolina A&T and spent three seasons in the minor league system of the San Francisco Giants. He later relocated to New York and took up the role of a community center director in Brooklyn. This is where he refereed some recreational league games and eventually began officiating in the renowned Rucker League, a summer hotspot where many of basketball’s finest players kept fit.
After spending $100 to enroll in an officials’ camp, he failed his first exam a few weeks later but eventually passed. He also managed to attract the attention of a camp instructor.
Evans remembered years later, “He told me that college games would be a waste of my time since I already possessed the necessary skills to succeed in the pros.”
In 1972, Evans, who was 31 at the time, was signed to a part-time contract, which was upgraded to a full-time one the following year. Despite the challenging nature of this transition, he found support in the recognition he received from stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier and others, who knew him from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem.
Evans was among the first Black referees in the NBA, with only Ken Hudson (1968-72) and a few others preceding him. Understandably, he encountered a type of heckling that was uncommon among his colleagues.
“Cathy Evans reminded, “You must bear in mind that this happened back in the ’70s and ’80s. I remember attending a game in Houston where a fan wouldn’t stop ranting. Hugh never engaged in arguments with fans. He would simply summon security.”
I recall thinking, ‘This fellow is about to depart, and he’s completely oblivious.’ I had observed Hugh approach the table, followed by the man at the table heading to security. Before I knew it, they were escorting the young man out.
“He couldn’t spare the time and didn’t wish to detract from the game. That’s the purpose of having security – to allow them to carry out their duties.”
Evans ‘only cared about the game’
Contrary to how he distanced himself from players and coaches, Evans had a different relationship with his coworkers. He was always ready to help and mentor, eager to share his acquired knowledge about the game.
In 1998, Hugh Evans converses with other referees during a game.
“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring to a younger referee,” said Delaney. “When you enter an arena as a stranger, you have the urge to prove that you belong. He imparted that kind of courage.”
He possessed impressive leadership skills, but he never was the type to command ‘do this’ or ‘do that’. Instead, he led by example, demonstrating the right way to accomplish things. He offered encouragement throughout the process and had an exceptional teaching method to drive his point home.
Crawford added, “Some of the older guys were control freaks, which made learning difficult. However, Hugh was completely different. He’d simply say, ‘Do it.’ If an incident occurred on the floor, he didn’t mind you going to the scorers’ table, managing the clock, or interacting with the coaches.”
Back in the day, there was no Las Vegas Summer League or similar venues where you could learn to be a referee. You had to learn while doing the job. Some veteran referees would harshly criticize you in the locker room if you didn’t officiate the game the way they did. However, Hubert was different. He was understated and only focused on the game itself.
“Duke, also known as Mike Callahan, who is my best friend, once broke in. He always claimed, ‘I prefer working with Hugh over you.'”
Evans, having resigned as a game official in 2001, served for two seasons as an assistant supervisor of officials in the NBA. Despite being retired, he remained committed to contributing to the game.
During the 2001 NBA Finals, Hugh Evans refereed his final NBA game.
“Cathy Evans recalled, “There were instances when I accompanied him and he would willingly skip meals because he wanted the novice referees to observe some games. He would inform, ‘Take note, I’m heading over to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.'”
Even after he retired, the guys would still contact him. They would say, “I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. Could you watch the game and send me some notes if you have the time?”
Evans resided in Richmond, Va., for a significant portion of his career before relocating to Florida and subsequently to Atlanta. As an adept golfer, he often played with Sam Jones, a Hall of Famer from the Boston Celtics who passed away the previous December, and Luis Grillo, a former NBA referee.
In April, despite his own declining health, Evans, his wife Cathy, and Delaney – who acted as the driving force behind Evans’ wheelchair – attended the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans for the announcement of Evans’ induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame. The warm reception he received that weekend, including congrats from former NBA players, coaches, and referees, and friendly greetings from fans, compensated for what he would miss in Springfield the following weekend.
If you didn’t officiate in a way that some older referees liked, they would harshly criticize you in the locker room. However, Hubert was more subtle and only focused on the game.
— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans
“Delaney said, ‘Hugh seemed aware that he was struggling, and that’s why it was crucial for him to attend the Final Four. He knew he would receive recognition there.'”
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 preceding his death demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and their sons Aaron and Todd, the joy the basketball community felt for him.
“Cathy shared that he received an email from former NBA Deputy Commissioner, Russ Granik. He also got phone calls from Matt Winick, a longtime league executive who used to handle referees’ schedules. In addition, he received numerous calls and text messages. Philadelphia’s coach, Doc Rivers, even texted him to say that he and some other coaches had spent over an hour discussing Hugh,” she said.
“I’m simply pleased 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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