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

Hugh Evans continuously believed that his role was to command respect, not necessarily affection. However, as time passed, he became so proficient in earning respect that he couldn’t help but sense a considerable 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., saw it as crucial to maintain a certain distance from the participants to eliminate any chance or even the hint of his integrity being compromised due to friendships. Despite this, he managed to successfully do so and still ended up with numerous work friends.

“Former NBA official Bob Delaney described how Hugh Evans would approach his job. He would stride to the center of the floor, amidst coaches and acquaintances, projecting an aura that said, ‘I’m here to do a job and I know I’m not meant to be the spotlight’,” Delaney stated.

Longtime referee Joey Crawford stated, “He became really popular among players and coaches because of his pleasant demeanor. He was completely different from me, which is probably why they liked him.”

His integrity, knowledge of the game, and professionalism as a referee were all top-tier. This man was always prepared and ready to perform his duty. His preparation was impressive. Every time he stepped on the floor, I knew we would get his best effort.

— 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 honored on Saturday night. Reggie Miller and George Gervin will present the enshrinement. It is fair to say that their relationships with Evans grew stronger after his retirement, rather than during his active period from 1973-2001.

“Evans’ widow, Cathy, shared with NBA.com last week his fondness for maintaining a professional approach,” she explained, “However, he built relationships with those players he respected.”

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 as a player. However, as a referee, he was exceptional. His integrity, game knowledge, and professionalism were all top-notch. He was always prepared and ready for the job. His preparation was outstanding. I was confident that every time he took to the floor, he would give his best.”

Discussing the top officials in the NBA, he is certainly among them. He was a straightforward, no-nonsense individual. However, we were confident that he would ensure fairness in the game and make calls based on his observations. Knowing him was truly a pleasure.

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A unique NBA officiating journey

Evans has made history as the first African-American referee among the 17 in the Hall, a notable achievement that his family and friends take pride in. The one who nominated him, Delaney, recalls: “I got acquainted with Hugh Evans back in 1985 and often heard people referring to him as ‘the best Black NBA referee.’ However, I could never comprehend why the word ‘Black’ was emphasized – he was undoubtedly one of the most exceptional NBA referees of all time, a sentiment that the Naismith Hall echoes.”

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 the course of 28 seasons. However, his journey to the league was equally impressive. Evans skipped the usual route of refereeing high school or college games, and jumped directly into the pros.

After his departure from North Carolina A&T, the robust 6-foot-4 Evans chose to pursue a career in baseball, playing for three seasons in the San Francisco Giants’ farm system. He later relocated to New York and assumed the role of director at a community center in Brooklyn. Here, he refereed some recreational league games before deciding to take his officiating skills to the renowned Rucker League. This is where many of basketball’s top players maintained their fitness during summer on the blacktop courts.

He paid $100 to join an officials’ camp. After failing the initial test a few weeks later, he managed to pass. 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 had what it took to succeed in the pros.”

In 1972, at the age of 31, Evans was signed to a part-time contract and then became a full-time employee the next year. Despite the challenges, he felt supported when famous basketball players like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Walt Frazier recognized him from his work at Rucker Park in Harlem.

Evans was among the pioneering Black referees in the NBA, with only Ken Hudson (1968-72) and a handful of others before him. As expected, he endured a type of heckling that most of his peers did not.

“Cathy Evans reminded, “You must bear in mind, this was during the ’70s and ’80s. I remember being at a game in Houston where there was a fan who just kept going. Hugh, however, never engaged in back-and-forths with fans. He would simply summon security.”

“I recall thinking, ‘He’s about to leave, yet he’s utterly oblivious.’ I observed Hugh approaching the table, followed by the man at the table seeking security. Before I knew it, they were escorting the kid out.”

“He lacked time and didn’t want to detract from the game. That’s the purpose of security – you allow them to carry out their duties.”

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Evans ‘only cared about the game’

Contrary to how he distanced himself from players and coaches, Evans was quite the opposite with his co-workers. He availed himself as a helpful resource and an eager mentor, always ready to impart the knowledge he gathered about the game.

“His demeanor was incredibly reassuring to a younger referee,” said Delaney. “When you enter an arena as a stranger, there’s a need to prove your worth. He provided the strength to do that.”

He possessed distinct leadership traits, but he wasn’t the type to dictate orders. Instead, he led by example, showing what needed to be done. He nurtured others on this path, using an effective teaching method to express his point.

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 issue arose on the floor, he had no issue with you approaching the scorers’ table, managing the clock, or conversing with the coaches.”

Back in the day, there was no Las Vegas Summer League or any other venues where you could learn refereeing. You had to gain experience while working. Some experienced referees would severely criticize you in the locker room if you didn’t referee like them. However, Hubert was different. He was understated and solely focused on the game.

“Duke, whose real name is Mike Callahan, and I are best friends. When he started, he would always say, ‘I prefer working with Hugh over you.'”

Evans, after resigning as a game official in 2001, served as an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two seasons. Despite retiring, he remained dedicated to contributing to the game.

Cathy Evans recounted, “There were instances when he would give up his dinner just so the young referees could watch certain games. He would inform us, ‘I’m headed to so-and-so’s room to analyze this tape.'”

The men continued to reach out even after his retirement. They’d ask, ‘I’m covering an ESPN game tonight. If you can, could you watch the game and send me your observations?’

For a significant part of his career, Evans resided in Richmond, Va., before relocating to Florida and eventually Atlanta. He was a skilled golfer and often played 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, despite his own declining health, Evans, along with his wife Cathy and Delaney who served as the driving force of Evans’ wheelchair, attended the men’s NCAA Final Four in New Orleans for the announcement of his induction into the referee’s Hall of Fame. The warm reception he received that weekend, marked by congratulations from former NBA players, coaches, and referees, and even greetings from fans, compensated for what he would miss the following weekend in Springfield.

If you didn’t referee the way some older referees liked, they would severely criticize you in the locker room. However, Hubert was more relaxed and his only concern was the game.

— Joey Crawford, on Hugh Evans

“Delaney expressed, “I believe Hugh was somewhat aware that he was faltering. That’s why going to the Final Four was so crucial for him. He understood that he would receive recognition there.”

Nobody truly desires to receive an award or recognition after their death. Luckily for Evans, the affection he received at the Superdome and in the three months preceding his death demonstrated to him, his wife Cathy, and his sons Aaron and Todd how thrilled the basketball community was for him.

“Cathy stated, ‘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 scheduling the referees for many years. He was inundated with calls and text messages. To illustrate, Doc Rivers, the coach of Philadelphia, texted saying that he and some other coaches had been discussing Hugh for more than an hour.'”

“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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