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

Hugh Evans had always believed that his role was to be esteemed, not to be adored. However, as time passed, 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 professional distance from the participants to eliminate any risk or hint of bias due to friendships. Despite this, he was successful and managed to cultivate numerous work-related friendships.

“Even amid known coaches and different people, Hugh Evans would walk to the center of the floor with an aura,” said Bob Delaney, a former NBA official. “He carried an air of ‘I’m here to do my job and I’m not supposed to be the center of attention.'”

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

“His integrity as a referee, understanding of the game, and professionalism were all top-tier. He was consistently prepared to perform his duties impeccably. His preparation was superb. I was confident that we would receive his best effort each time he stepped on the court.”

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

Evans, who passed away in July at the age of 81 due to congestive heart failure, will be officially inducted on Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will be his presenters. It’s fair to say that their relationships with Evans developed more after his retirement than during his active career from 1973-2001.

“Evans’ widow, Cathy, shared with NBA.com last week that her husband was a man who preferred to keep everything professional. However, he did have relationships with some of the players he respected,” Cathy revealed.

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 didn’t know him in his playing days. However, as a referee, he exhibited exemplary professionalism, a deep understanding of the game, and impeccable integrity. He was always well-prepared and ready to perform his duties. Every time he stepped onto the court, I was certain we would receive his best effort.”

Discussing the leading figures in the NBA, he ranks highly. He was a straightforward person. However, we were certain that he would ensure a fair game and make calls based on his perception. It was a delight to have been acquainted with him.

---

A unique NBA officiating journey

Evans is the first African-American referee among the 17 in the Hall, a milestone that his family and friends take great pride in. Delaney, who nominated him, shared, “I first encountered Hugh Evans in 1985. People often referred to him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I could never comprehend why the word ‘Black’ was used. In my view, he was one of the finest NBA referees of all time, and the Naismith Hall concurs.”

Evans had an impressive tenure in the NBA, working 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games, and four All-Star Games over the span of 28 seasons. However, his entry into the league was just as remarkable as his accomplishments within it. Evans bypassed the usual route of officiating high school or college games and jumped straight into professional basketball.

Evans, a robust man standing at 6-foot-4, chose to pursue a career in baseball after departing from North Carolina A&T. He played three seasons in the farm system for the San Francisco Giants. Later on, he relocated to New York and assumed the role of director at a community center in Brooklyn. It was there that he refereed a few recreational league games. Before long, he brought his whistle to the renowned Rucker League. This is where many of the most exceptional players in the game maintained their fitness during the summer on the asphalt courts.

He invested $100 to participate in an officials’ camp. A few weeks later, despite failing the initial exam, he managed to pass. Additionally, he attracted the attention of a camp instructor.

Evans remembered years later that he was told, “Going to college games would be a waste of time for me because I already had the skills to succeed in the professional league.”

In 1972, Evans, who was 31 at the time, was signed to a part-time contract and then transitioned to full-time the next year. Despite the challenges, Evans noted that it was beneficial that stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt Frazier, and others recognized him from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem.

Evans was among the earliest 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 peers did not.

“Cathy Evans reminded, “We must not forget that this happened in 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 call security.”

I recall thinking, ‘This fellow is about to be escorted out and he’s completely oblivious.’ I had noticed Hugh approach the table and then the guy at the table head towards security. Before I knew it, they were escorting the young man out.

“He lacked time and was unwilling to distract from the game. That is the role of security – to allow them to perform their duties.”

---

Evans ‘only cared about the game’

Regarding his coworkers, Evans behaved contrary to his aloofness towards players and coaches. He was always prepared to be a supportive mentor and resource, keen on imparting his knowledge about the game, which he learned on the fly.

“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring, especially to a younger referee,” said Delaney. “When you step into an arena unknown and try to prove your worth, you need certain strength. He provided that.”

He possessed remarkable leadership skills, but he wasn’t the type of person to boss others around. Instead, he led by example, demonstrating the right actions. He would guide and motivate you in a highly effective teaching manner to get his message across.

Crawford added, “There were some older guys who were control freaks, making it difficult to learn. However, Hugh was completely different. He would simply say, ‘Do it.’ If an incident occurred on the floor, he had no qualms about you proceeding to the scorers’ table, managing the clock, and communicating with the coaches.”

Back in the day, there was no Las Vegas Summer League or similar venues for learning to officiate a game. The learning had to happen on the job. If you didn’t referee in the same style as some of the older referees, they would severely criticize you in the locker room. However, Hubert was different; he was unobtrusive and his only concern was the game itself.

“Duke, also known as Mike Callahan, who is my best friend, always used to say that he preferred working with Hugh over me when he first started.”

Evans stepped down as a game official in 2001 and then served as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. Despite his retirement, he remained committed to contributing to the game.

“Cathy Evans shared, “He often sacrificed meals during our travels together, prioritizing the education of young referees. He would tell me, ‘I’m heading over to so-and-so’s room to analyze this game footage.'”

“Even after he retired, the guys would still call him. They would say things like, ‘I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. If you’re free, could you watch the game and send me some observations?'”

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

In April, Evans, despite his deteriorating health, along with his wife Cathy and Delaney – who acted as the engine of Evans’ wheelchair – travelled to the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans for the announcement of his induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame. The enthusiastic reception he received over that weekend, which included congratulations from former NBA players, coaches, and referees, and even greetings from fans, compensated for what he would miss in Springfield this upcoming weekend.

If you didn’t officiate in a way that pleased some of the older referees, they would severely criticize you in the locker room. Hubert, however, was more reserved and focused solely on the game.

— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans

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

Nobody generally desires to receive an award or recognition after their death. Luckily for Evans, the affection he experienced at the Superdome, and in the subsequent three months before his demise, demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and his sons Aaron and Todd, the basketball community’s joy for him.

“Cathy mentioned 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 responsible for scheduling referees. He received numerous calls and text messages. Even Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, texted him and mentioned that he and some other coaches had a discussion about Hugh that lasted for over an hour,” she said.

“I’m simply glad that he was aware he was going in.”

* * *

Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.