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

Hugh Evans always believed his role was to earn respect, not affection. However, as time passed, he became so proficient at garnering 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 distance from the participants to eliminate any chance or even hint of being influenced by friendship. He managed to do this effectively, but still ended up with a lot of friends at work.

“Bob Delaney, a former NBA official, said, ‘Hugh Evans would position himself in the center of the floor and, despite being familiar with the coaches and various individuals, he always maintained an air of professionalism, making it clear that his role wasn’t to be the focus, but to perform his duty.'”

Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “He was well-liked by players and coaches due to his good 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 prepared and ready to do his job. His preparation was outstanding. I was confident that every time he stepped onto the floor, he would give his best.

— Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, on Hugh Evans’ officiating career

Evans, who passed away from congestive heart failure at the age of 81 in July, will officially be honored on Saturday night. His presenters, Reggie Miller and George Gervin, became more closely connected with him after his retirement than during his active career from 1973-2001.

“Evans’ widow, Cathy, conveyed to NBA.com last week that he preferred to keep things strictly professional. However, he developed a relationship with some of the players he respected,” 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 was never acquainted with him as a player. However, in his capacity as a referee, he was outstanding in his integrity, understanding of the game, and professionalism. He was always prepared and ready to perform his duty. His preparation was impressive. I was assured that every time he stepped onto the court, he would bring his best.”

Discussing the highest-ranking officials in the NBA, he is certainly among them. He was a straightforward person, yet we were confident the game would be impartial under his supervision, and he would make decisions based on his observations. Knowing him was truly enjoyable.

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A unique NBA officiating journey

Evans is the first African-American referee to be included among the 17 in the Hall, a distinction his family and friends take great pride in. Delaney, who put forth his nomination, stated, “I was introduced to Hugh Evans in 1985. People often described him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never quite understood why the term ‘Black’ was necessary – he was simply one of the best NBA referees of all time, a sentiment echoed by the Naismith Hall.”

Evans served across 28 NBA seasons, officiating 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four All-Star Games. Interestingly, Evans’ entry into the league was as noteworthy as his accomplishments within it. He bypassed officiating at high school and college levels, immediately stepping into the professional sphere.

Evans, a robust 6-foot-4 figure, chose baseball after exiting North Carolina A&T, playing three seasons in the farm system of the San Francisco Giants. He later relocated to New York, taking on the director’s role at a community center in Brooklyn. There, he refereed some recreational league games before eventually bringing his referee whistle to the renowned Rucker League. This league is where some of the best basketball players maintained their fitness during the summer on the blacktop courts.

He paid $100 to join an officials’ camp and failed the first exam a few weeks later. However, he eventually passed and managed to capture 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 needed to succeed in the professional league.”

In 1972, Evans, who was 31 at the time, was signed on a part-time contract, before being added as a full-time employee the subsequent year. Despite the challenges, he stated that his work at Rucker Park in Harlem helped him gain recognition from stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier, and others.

Evans was among the pioneering 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 not subjected to.

“Cathy Evans reminded, “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, however, would never engage with a fan. He would simply call security.”

“I recall the thought crossing my mind, ‘He’s about to leave, and he’s totally unaware of it.’ I had observed Hugh approaching the table, followed by the man at the table heading over to 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 role of security – allowing them to perform their duty.”

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Evans ‘only cared about the game’

Evans, in stark contrast to his distance from players and coaches, was a readily available resource and mentor to his coworkers. He was eager to impart the knowledge he had gained about the game in real-time.

“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring to a young referee,” said Delaney. “When you enter an arena as an unknown, you want to demonstrate your worth. He would provide you with such strength.”

While he possessed strong leadership qualities, he was not the type to issue directives. Instead, he led by example and offered encouragement, utilizing a highly effective teaching style to get his point across.

Crawford added, “Some of the older guys were control freaks, making it difficult to learn. Hugh, however, was completely different. He would simply say, ‘Go ahead.’ If an issue arose on the floor, he had no issue with you approaching the scorers’ table to manage the clock or communicate with the coaches.”

Back in the day, there wasn’t a Las Vegas Summer League or numerous venues where you could master refereeing. It was necessary to learn while working. Some senior referees would fiercely criticize you in the locker room if you didn’t referee in their style. However, Hubert was relaxed and his only concern was the game.

“Duke, or Mike Callahan as he’s also known, who happens to be my best friend, has always stated, ‘I prefer working with Hugh over you.'”

Evans stepped down as a game official in 2001 and took up a role as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. However, even in retirement, he remained dedicated to contributing to the game.

“Cathy Evans shared, “Sometimes when I accompanied him on his travels, he would give up his dinner so that the young referees could watch certain games. He’d say, ‘I’m heading to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.'”

The men continued to reach out even following his retirement. They would often say, “I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. If it’s not too much trouble, could you watch the game and send me some feedback?”

For much of his career, Evans resided in Richmond, Va., before relocating to Florida and subsequently to Atlanta. He was a skilled golfer who often played alongside Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Sam Jones, who passed away the previous December, and Luis Grillo, a former NBA referee.

In April, Evans, who was dealing with deteriorating health, attended the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans along with his wife Cathy and Delaney, who acted as the driving force behind his wheelchair. The occasion was marked by the announcement of his induction into the referee’s Hall. The warm reception he received that weekend, full of congratulations from former NBA players, coaches, referees, and even fans, compensated for what he’ll miss this weekend in Springfield.

If you didn’t officiate the way some older referees preferred, they would harshly criticize you in the locker room. Hubert, however, was more laid-back and only focused on the game.

— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans

“Delaney indicated that Hugh seemed to have a sense he was declining and that’s why he felt it was crucial to attend the Final Four. He was aware that he would receive recognition there,” she said.

Nobody truly desires to receive awards or recognition after their death. Luckily for Evans, he experienced the warmth of recognition at the Superdome and in the three months leading up to his demise. This showed Evans, his wife Cathy, and their sons Aaron and Todd how delighted the basketball community was for him.

“Cathy revealed that 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 referees’ scheduling for many years. Additionally, he got numerous phone calls and text messages. Among those messages, Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, texted him to say that he and some other coaches had spent over an hour discussing Hugh,” Cathy 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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