'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 gaining 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 certain distance from the participants to eliminate any chance or hint of his integrity being compromised due to friendship. Despite his efforts, he still ended up with numerous work friends.

“Even amidst coaches and acquaintances, Hugh Evans would stroll to the center of the floor with a powerful presence that said, ‘I’m here to do a job and I’m aware that I shouldn’t be the focus of attention,'” said Bob Delaney, a former NBA official, about Evans.

Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “Players and coaches really took a liking to him due to his pleasant demeanor. He was completely different from me, which I suppose 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 perform his job. His preparation was exceptional, and I knew every time he stepped onto the court, we could expect his best.

— 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 on Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will be presenting the honor. Evans’ connections with Miller and Gervin grew more after his retirement, rather than during his active career from 1973-2001.

“Evans kept things strictly professional,” his widow, Cathy, shared with NBA.com in the previous week. “However, he maintained a relationship with some of the players he held in high regard,” 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 said, “I was never acquainted with him as a player. However, as a referee, his integrity, understanding of the game and professionalism were all unparalleled. He was always fully prepared to perform his duties. His preparation was outstanding. I was certain that every time he appeared on the court, he would give his best.”

Discussing the highest-ranking officials in the NBA, he’s certainly among them. He was a straightforward person. However, we were assured of a fair game as he would call it as he perceived it. Knowing him was truly a delight.

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A unique NBA officiating journey

Evans is the first African-American referee to join the 17-member Hall, a significant accomplishment that his family and friends take great pride in. Delaney, who put Evans’ name forward for this honour, recalled meeting him in 1985. He said, “People often referred to Hugh Evans as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ I never understood why ‘Black’ was included in that description. He was one of the best NBA referees of all time, and the Naismith Hall concurs.”

Evans had an impressive career in the NBA, working 1,969 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games, and four All-Star Games over 28 seasons. Equally impressive was his journey to the league – he never officiated a high school or college game, making a direct leap to the professional level.

Evans, a robust 6-foot-4 individual, chose to pursue a career in baseball after graduating from North Carolina A&T. He spent three seasons playing in the San Francisco Giants’ minor league system. Eventually, he relocated to New York and took on the role of director at a community center in Brooklyn. It was here that he began refereeing recreational league games and subsequently brought his skills to the renowned Rucker League, a summer league where many of basketball’s legends kept themselves in game shape.

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

Evans remembered years later, “He told me that college games would be a waste of time for me because I already possessed the skills necessary to succeed in the pros.”

Evans was 31 when he signed a part-time contract in 1972, and the following year, he was given a full-time position. Despite the challenges, Evans stated 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 first Black referees in the NBA, with only Ken Hudson (1968-72) and a handful of others coming before him. As a result, he encountered a type of heckling that most of his fellow referees didn’t face.

Cathy Evans reminded, “Keep in mind, this took place in the ’70s and ’80s. I remember being at a game in Houston where there was a fan who wouldn’t stop talking. Hugh never engaged in a back-and-forth with a fan. His usual response was to simply call for security.”

“I recall thinking, ‘He’s preparing to depart without even realizing it.’ I had seen Hugh approach the table, followed by the fellow at the table heading towards security. Before I knew it, they were escorting the lad away.

“He couldn’t spare the time, and didn’t want to detract from the game. That’s what the security’s role is – to allow them to perform their duty.”

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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 mentor and serve as a resource, eagerly sharing his knowledge about the game gleaned from his own experiences.

“His demeanor provided immense reassurance to a novice referee,” stated Delaney. “When you enter an arena as an unknown, you are eager to establish your credibility. He instilled that kind of confidence in you.”

He possessed exceptional leadership skills, but he wasn’t the type to boss people around with commands like ‘I told you to do this’ or ‘I told you to do that.’ Instead, he led by example, demonstrating the correct actions. He also had an extraordinary teaching style, guiding and encouraging you while effectively making his point.

Crawford added, “There were some older men 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 issues with you approaching the scorer’s table, managing the clock, or conversing with the coaches.

Back then, there were no opportunities like the Las Vegas Summer League or other venues to learn refereeing. It was a learn-as-you-go process. If your refereeing style didn’t match that of the older, experienced referees, they wouldn’t hesitate to berate you in the locker room. But Hubert was different. He was understated and his only concern was the game.

“Duke, also known as Mike Callahan, once broke in, he always stated, ‘I prefer working with Hugh over you.’ He and I are best friends.”

Evans, after resigning as a game official in 2001, served as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. However, even in his retirement, he remained committed to contributing to the game.

“Cathy Evans recalled, “There were instances when I accompanied him on travels where he would give up his dinner just so the young referees could watch certain games. He’d announce, ‘I’m heading to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.'”

Even after his retirement, the guys continued to call him. They would say, “I’m covering an ESPN game tonight; if you have the time, could you watch the game and send me your notes?”

For the majority of his career, Evans resided in Richmond, Va., before relocating to Florida and eventually Atlanta. He was a skilled golfer and often played with Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Sam Jones, who passed away last December, and ex-NBA referee Luis Grillo.

In April, when his health was deteriorating, Evans, his wife Cathy, and Delaney (who helped maneuver Evans’ wheelchair) attended the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans 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 even fans during that weekend compensated for the fact that he would be absent from the upcoming event in Springfield.

If you didn’t officiate in a way some older referees approved of, they would intensely criticize you in the locker room. However, Hubert was a more relaxed referee who solely focused on the game.

— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans

“Delaney said, ‘I believe Hugh somewhat realized he was faltering and that’s why attending the Final Four was crucial for him. He knew that he would receive recognition there.'”

Nobody genuinely desires to earn accolades or recognition after they’re gone. Luckily for Evans, the warmth he received at the Superdome and the subsequent three months prior to his death demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and his sons Aaron and Todd, the joy the basketball community held for him.

“Cathy informed us that he received an email from Russ Granik, the former NBA deputy commissioner,” she relayed. “He also received phone calls from Matt Winick; a long-time league executive who was responsible for the referees’ scheduling for many years. There were numerous calls and text messages, in fact, Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, texted him. He was in the company of other coaches and they had a conversation about Hugh for more than an hour,” she added.

“I’m simply glad that he was aware he would be 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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