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, not affection. However, as time went on, he became so proficient at earning respect that he inevitably felt a great deal 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 absolutely crucial to maintain a certain distance from the participants. He wanted to eliminate any chance or even a hint of his integrity being compromised due to a friendship. Despite his efforts, he still ended up with numerous work friends.
“Even amidst coaches and various people he was acquainted with, Hugh Evans had this aura about him,” stated former NBA official Bob Delaney. He continued, “He would stride to the center of the floor and exude this sense of ‘I am here to fulfill my duties and I am aware that I am not meant to be the focal point’.”
Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “Players and coaches truly appreciated him due to his likable demeanor. He was completely different from me, which I suppose is why they were fond of him.”
“He was a top tier referee, demonstrating integrity, profound understanding of the game, and utmost professionalism. He was always primed for the job, his preparation impeccable. I was certain that every time he took to the floor, we would receive his best effort.”
— 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 this Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will be his presenters. It can be said that their relationships with Evans developed more after his retirement than during his active career from 1973-2001.
“Evans’ widow, Cathy, told NBA.com last week, ‘He liked to keep it strictly professional. However, with the players he respected, he managed to build 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 commented, “I didn’t know him in his player days. However, as a referee, he was exceptionally professional, knowledgeable, and full of integrity. He was always primed to perform his duties, and his preparation was outstanding. Every time he took to the court, I knew he would give his all.”
Discussing the premier officials in the NBA, his name is certainly prominent. He was a straight-shooter. However, we were confident that he would conduct the game fairly and make calls based on his honest judgement. Knowing him was truly a pleasure.
A unique NBA officiating journey
Evans has made history by becoming the first African-American referee in the Hall’s 17, a notable achievement that his family and friends take immense pride in. Delaney, who proposed his nomination, said, “I first encountered Hugh Evans in 1985. Many referred to him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never quite grasped why his race was emphasized – he was simply one of the finest NBA referees of all time, a sentiment echoed by the Naismith Hall.”
Evans had an impressive career in the NBA, officiating 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games, and four All-Star Games over 28 seasons. What’s even more remarkable is how he got his start in the league. Evans didn’t officiate a single high school or college game, he went straight to the pros.
During the 1988 NBA Finals, a game is refereed by Hugh Evans.
Evans, a robust 6-foot-4 individual, chose to pursue a career in baseball after departing North Carolina A&T. He spent three seasons in the farm system of the San Francisco Giants. Eventually, he relocated to New York, where he took on the role of director at a community center in Brooklyn. It was here that he refereed some recreational league games and, in due course, brought his whistle to the renowned Rucker League. This was a place where many of the most exceptional players in the game maintained their fitness during the summer on the blacktop courts.
He invested $100 in an officials’ camp registration. A few weeks later, despite failing the first exam, he succeeded in passing. Additionally, he managed to grab the attention of a camp instructor.
Evans remembered years later, “He told me I would be wasting my time with college games because I already had what was needed to succeed in the pros.”
In 1972, Evans, who was 31 at the time, was signed on a part-time basis. The following year, he was made a full-time employee. Despite the challenges, Evans stated that being recognized by stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier, and others from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem was beneficial.
Evans was among the first Black referees in the NBA, only coming after Ken Hudson (1968-72) and a handful others. As expected, he experienced a type of heckling his colleagues generally did not.
“Cathy Evans reminded, “You must bear in mind, this was during the ’70s and ’80s. I recollect being at a match in Houston where a fan kept going on. Hugh, on the other hand, was not the type to engage in a back-and-forth with a fan. He would simply summon security.”
“I recall contemplating, ‘This fellow is about to depart and he’s completely unaware.’ I observed Hugh approaching the table and then saw the man at the table head towards security. Subsequently, they escorted the young man out.
“He didn’t have the time, nor did he want to detract from the game. That’s the role of security – to allow them to perform their duties.”
Evans ‘only cared about the game’
Concerning his coworkers, Evans behaved contrary to his aloofness towards players and coaches. He readily served as a resource and mentor, willingly imparting the knowledge he had acquired about the game as he learned it.
In 1998, Hugh Evans converses with other referees during a game.
“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring, especially for a younger referee,” said Delaney. “When you enter an arena where no one recognizes you, there’s a desire to prove your worth. He had the ability to instill that kind of courage in you.
Although he had strong leadership qualities, he was not one to boss others around with commands. Instead, he demonstrated the correct actions through his own behavior. He was encouraging and had a remarkable instructional method which effectively conveyed his points.
Crawford added, “Some of the older guys were control freaks, which made learning difficult. However, Hugh was entirely different. He would simply say, ‘Do it.’ If an issue arose on the floor, he was comfortable with you approaching the scorers’ table, managing the clock, and communicating with the coaches.”
Back in the day, there wasn’t a Las Vegas Summer League or any other platforms where you could hone your refereeing skills; you had to learn through experience. Some veteran referees would harshly criticize you in the locker room if your refereeing style didn’t align with theirs. Unlike them, Hubert was more subtle and focused solely on the game.
“Duke, also known as Mike Callahan, who is my best friend, once started off by saying, ‘I prefer working with Hugh over you.'”
Evans stepped down as a game official in 2001 and then served as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. Despite retiring, he remained committed to contributing to the game.
The 2001 NBA Finals was the last NBA game refereed by Hugh Evans.
“Cathy Evans mentioned, “He would often forego his dinner during our travels, as he wanted the young referees to observe certain games. He’d say, ‘I’m heading to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.'”
“Even after he retired, the guys would still call. They would tell him, ‘I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. Could you possibly watch the game and send me your thoughts?'”
For a significant part of his career, Evans resided in Richmond, Va., before relocating to Florida and subsequently Atlanta. He was a skilled golfer and often played with Boston Celtics Hall of Famer, Sam Jones (who passed away the previous December), and ex-NBA referee, Luis Grillo.
In April, Evans, his wife Cathy, and Delaney – the driving force behind Evans’ wheelchair – traveled to the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans despite Evans’ declining health. They were there for the announcement of Evans’ induction into the Referee’s Hall of Fame. The warm welcome and congratulations he received from former NBA players, coaches, referees, and fans during that weekend compensated for what he would miss in the upcoming weekend in Springfield.
If you didn’t officiate the way some older referees liked, they’d berate you in the locker room. However, Hubert was more subdued and focused solely on the game.
— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans
“Delaney said, “I believe Hugh was somewhat aware that he was struggling, and that’s why attending the Final Four was significant. He knew he would gain recognition there.”
Nobody genuinely desires to receive an award or recognition after they’re gone. Luckily for Evans, the warmth he experienced at the Superdome and during the subsequent three months prior to his demise demonstrated to him, Cathy, and their sons Aaron and Todd, the extent of the basketball world’s joy for him.
“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 executive who was in charge of the referees’ scheduling for many years. He was inundated with calls and text messages. Notably, Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, texted to say that he and some other coaches had a discussion about Hugh for more than an hour.”
“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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