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

Hugh Evans always believed his role was to command respect, rather than affection. However, as time passed, he became so proficient in 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., felt it was crucial to maintain a professional distance from the participants to eliminate any chance or hint of bias due to friendship. He managed to achieve this, yet still ended up with numerous friends at work.

“Despite knowing coaches and various people, Hugh Evans had an aura of being focused on his job and not wanting to be the center of attention,” said Bob Delaney, a former NBA official. “He would walk to the middle of the floor.”

Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “Players and coaches really grew fond of him due to his pleasant demeanor. He was entirely different from me, which, I suspect, is why they liked him.”

“His integrity, knowledge of the game, and professionalism as a referee were all top tier. He was always prepared and ready to fulfill his duties. His preparation was extraordinary. 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 in July at the age of 81 from congestive heart failure, will be officially honored on Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will be presenting the tribute. It’s fair to suggest that their relationships with Evans developed more post his retirement than during his active career from 1973-2001.

“Evans’ widow, Cathy, shared with NBA.com last week that he preferred to maintain a strictly professional approach,” “However, he did establish relationships with some of the players he held in high regard.”

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 familiar with him as a player. However, in his role as a referee, he was exceptional. His integrity, understanding of the game, and professionalism were all first-rate. He was consistently prepared and ready to work. His preparation was outstanding. I was confident that every time he stepped onto the court, he would give his best.”

He is undoubtedly one of the highest-ranking officials in the NBA. He was a straightforward and serious person. However, we were confident that he would ensure fairness in the game and make calls based on his judgment. It was truly an honor to have known him.

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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 his family and friends take great pride in. Delaney, who nominated him, stated: “My initial encounter with Hugh Evans was in 1985. Many used to refer to him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never quite comprehended why the term ‘Black’ was used so specifically — he was one of the finest NBA referees of all time, a sentiment echoed by the Naismith Hall.”

Evans spent 28 NBA seasons, officiating 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four All-Star Games. However, his journey to the NBA is equally impressive as his tenure. He made an impressive leap directly to the professional league, never having officiated a high school or college game.

Evans, a robust 6-foot-4 individual, chose baseball as his career after his tenure at North Carolina A&T. He spent three seasons in the San Francisco Giants’ farm system. Eventually, he relocated to New York and took the position of director at a community center in Brooklyn. It was there that he presided over some recreational league matches. Before long, he brought his officiating talents to the renowned Rucker League, a summer blacktop playground for some of the most celebrated players in the game.

He invested $100 to join an officials’ camp. A few weeks later, despite failing the first exam, he managed to pass. He also attracted the attention of a camp instructor.

Evans remembered years later, “He told me that I would be squandering my time with college games because 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, before being added to a full-time contract the following year. Despite the challenges, he found it helpful that he was recognized by stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier and others from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem.

Evans was among the initial Black referees in the NBA, following only a handful of others such as Ken Hudson (1968-72). As expected, he endured a type of heckling that most of his peers did not experience.

“Cathy Evans reminisced, “You must keep in mind, we’re talking about the ’70s and ’80s. I remember being at a game in Houston where a fan just kept going on and on. Hugh, however, was not the type to argue with a fan. His response was simply to call for security.”

I recall thinking, ‘This man is about to depart and he’s clueless about it.’ I observed Hugh approach the table and then watched as the man at the table sought out security. Before long, they were escorting the young man out.

“He didn’t have the time, nor did he want to detract from the game. That’s what security personnel are there for – you allow them to carry out their duties.”

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Evans ‘only cared about the game’

Evans, in contrast to his aloofness from players and coaches, was very involved with his colleagues. He was a readily available resource and mentor, always willing to impart the knowledge he had gained about the game.

Delaney said, “He possessed a demeanor that was incredibly reassuring to a novice referee. If you entered an arena where no one recognized you, you’d feel compelled to prove your worth. He provided that kind of fortitude.”

He possessed remarkable leadership skills, but he was not the type to boss people around with commands. Instead, he led by example, showing the right way to do things. In addition, he would guide and support you, utilizing excellent teaching methods to get his point across.

Crawford added, “There were some older men who were control freaks, making it hard to learn. However, Hugh was completely different. His attitude was, ‘Just do it.’ He had no issue with you going to the scorers’ table and managing the clock or speaking to the coaches if something happened on the floor.”

Back in the day, there wasn’t a Las Vegas Summer League or many other venues where you could learn to referee. It was a learn-as-you-go job. Some senior referees would harshly criticize you in the locker room if your refereeing style didn’t match theirs. Hubert, however, was more laid-back and his sole focus was the game.

“Duke, who is also known as Mike Callahan, is my best friend. When he started out, he would always say ‘I prefer working with Hugh over you.'”

Evans stepped down as a game official in 2001, and subsequently spent two seasons working as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials. Even during his retirement, his commitment to giving back to the game remained unyielding.

“Cathy Evans recalled, “There were instances when I accompanied him on his travels, he would choose to skip dinner as he wanted the novice referees to observe certain games. He would inform us, ‘I’ll be in so-and-so’s room, analyzing this footage.'”

“Even after he retired, the guys would still call him. They’d tell him, ‘I’m working on an ESPN game tonight. If you can, could you watch that game and send me your observations?'”

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

In April, Evans, despite his declining health, his wife Cathy, and Delaney — who acted as the driving force behind Evans’ wheelchair — attended the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans. This event was also where the announcement of Evans’ induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame was made. The warm welcome and congratulations he received that weekend from former NBA players, coaches, referees, and fans, more than compensated for what he would miss in Springfield the following weekend.

Some veteran referees would not hesitate to scold you in the locker room if they didn’t approve of your refereeing style. However, Hubert was more reserved and focused solely on the game.

— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans

“Delaney stated, “I believe Hugh somewhat realized his faltering state, and that’s why attending the Final Four event was crucial. He understood the recognition he would receive there.”

Nobody truly desires to receive an award or recognition after they’ve passed away. Luckily for Evans, the warmth he experienced at the Superdome and during the three months that followed prior to his demise demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and his sons Aaron and Todd, the extent of the basketball world’s joy for him.

“Cathy mentioned that he received an email from Russ Granik, the former NBA deputy commissioner. He was also contacted through phone calls by Matt Winick, a longtime league executive who was responsible for scheduling referees over the years. He received numerous calls and text messages. One of them was from Doc Rivers, the coach for Philadelphia, who texted him saying that he and some other coaches had been discussing Hugh for over an hour,” 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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