'No-nonsense' referee Hugh Evans gets his due in Springfield

Hugh Evans constantly believed his role was to be revered, not adored. As time progressed, he became so proficient at earning respect that he inevitably experienced a significant amount of affection.

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 prevent any potential or perceived bias due to personal relationships. Despite his efforts, he still ended up with numerous work friends.

“Former NBA official Bob Delaney stated that Hugh Evans had a professional aura that was evident even among coaches and acquaintances. Delaney explained, “Hugh would stride to the center of the courtroom, clearly conveying that he was there to fulfill his duties and he understood that he was not meant to be the focal point.”

Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “Players and coaches really grew fond of him because he had a pleasant demeanor. He was the complete antithesis of me, which I presume is why they liked him.”

“Being a referee, his integrity, game knowledge, and professionalism were all first-rate. He was always prepared to perform his duties. His preparation was splendid. I was confident that we would always get his best every time he stepped onto the field.”

— 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 officially be enshrined on Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will be presenting the honor. It’s fair to say that their relationships with Evans flourished more post his retirement than during his active career from 1973 to 2001.

“Evans always preferred to maintain a professional approach,” his widow, Cathy, informed NBA.com last week. “However, he established a bond with some of the players he admired,” she added.

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, his integrity, understanding of the game, and professionalism were unparalleled. He was always prepared to perform his duties excellently. His preparation process was truly impressive. I was confident that he would give his best every time he stepped onto the court.”

Discussing the leading authorities in the NBA, he holds a high position. He was a straightforward man. Yet, we were assured of a fair game and that he would make calls based on his judgment. Knowing him was indeed a pleasure.

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A unique NBA officiating journey

Evans also holds the distinction of being the first African-American referee in the Hall’s 17, a fact that fills his family and friends with pride. Delaney, who put Evans’ name forward for nomination, stated, “I first encountered Hugh Evans in 1985, often hearing him referred to as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never understood the need to include ‘Black’ in that statement – he was undeniably one of the best 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. However, his entry into the league was equally remarkable as he skipped officiating at high school or college level and directly started working in the professional league.

Evans, a robust 6-foot-4 individual, chose baseball after departing from North Carolina A&T and played for three seasons in the farm system of the San Francisco Giants. He later relocated to New York, where he assumed the role of a community center’s director 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 is where some of the most exceptional players of the game maintained their fitness on the summer blacktops.

He invested $100 to join an officials’ camp. A few weeks later, despite failing the initial test, he succeeded. He also managed to attract the attention of a camp instructor.

Evans later remembered being told, “He said pursuing college games would be a waste of my time as I already possessed the abilities to succeed in the pros.”

In 1972, Evans, who was 31 at the time, was contracted to work part-time and then he was given a full-time role the following year. Even though it was challenging, he mentioned that it was beneficial when stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier and others recognized him from his work in Harlem’s Rucker Park.

Evans was among the pioneering Black referees in the NBA, with only Ken Hudson (1968-72) and a handful of others before him. As a result, he encountered a type of heckling that many of his colleagues did not face.

“Cathy Evans reminded, “You must keep in mind that this was during the ’70s and ’80s. I remember being at a game in Houston where a fan just wouldn’t stop. Hugh, however, never engaged in a back-and-forth with a fan. He would simply summon security.”

I can still recall thinking, ‘This man is about to be ejected and he is completely unaware.’ I had observed Hugh moving towards the table, followed by the man at the table approaching security. Before long, they were escorting the young man out.

“He lacked time and didn’t wish to detract from the game. That’s the purpose of security – allowing them to carry out their responsibilities.”

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Evans ‘only cared about the game’

In contrast to how he distanced himself from players and coaches, Evans was quite the opposite with his co-workers. He was always ready to be a mentor and a resource, eager to impart the knowledge about the game he had acquired on the go.

“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring, especially for a young referee,” said Delaney. “When you step into an arena as an unknown, you’re eager to prove your worth. He had a way of instilling that strength in you.”

He possessed admirable leadership skills, but he wasn’t the type to constantly say ‘I told you to do this’ or ‘I told you to do that.’ Instead, he led by example, showing what needed to be done. Furthermore, he encouraged progress with his effective teaching methods and ability to convey his points.

Crawford added, “There were some older guys who were control freaks, making it difficult to learn. However, Hugh was entirely different. He would simply tell you to ‘do it.’ If something happened on the floor, he wouldn’t mind you going to the scorer’s table, managing the clock, or communicating with the coaches.”

Back in the day, opportunities like the Las Vegas Summer League and other venues to hone your refereeing skills didn’t exist. You had to figure it out while on the job. If you didn’t referee in the same style as some of the older, more seasoned referees, they wouldn’t hesitate to berate you in the locker room. However, Hubert was different. He was unassuming and only concerned with the game.

“Duke, also known as Mike Callahan, who is my best friend, always stated 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. Despite being retired, he remained committed to contributing to the game.

Cathy Evans recalled, “There were instances when I accompanied him on travels, he would willingly give up meals since he wanted the novice referees to watch certain games. He would declare, ‘Take note, I’m heading to so-and-so’s room to analyze this recording.'”

“Even after he retired, the guys would still call him. They would say, ‘Tonight, I’m covering an ESPN game. If you can, could you watch the game and send me some notes?'”

Evans resided in Richmond, Va., for a significant part of his career before relocating to Florida and eventually Atlanta. He was a skillful golfer, often seen on the course 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, Evans, his wife Cathy, and Delaney – who propelled Evans’ wheelchair – traveled to the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans despite Evans’ deteriorating health. The journey was made for the announcement of Evans’ induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame. The warm reception he received that weekend, including congratulations from former NBA players, coaches, and referees, as well as greetings from fans, compensated for what he would miss the following weekend in Springfield.

If you didn’t referee in a way that some older referees approved of, they would harshly criticize you in the locker room. However, Hubert was subtle and his only concern was the game.

— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans

“Delaney expressed that Hugh somewhat understood that he was struggling, which was why he was so keen on attending the Final Four. He was aware that he would receive recognition there,” she explained.

Nobody genuinely 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, Cathy, and their sons Aaron and Todd, the joy the basketball community held for him.

“Cathy mentioned that he received an email from Russ Granik, who is a former NBA deputy commissioner. He also received phone calls from Matt Winick, a longtime league executive who was responsible for scheduling the referees for many years. He was inundated with numerous calls and text messages. Among those was a text from Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, who said 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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