Hugh Evans (basketball)
Hugh Evans is a former basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 28 seasons from 1972 to 2001. During his NBA officiating career, Evans worked 1,969 regular season NBA games and 35 NBA Finals games. During the 1995–96 NBA season, Evans was ranked the second best official in the league by coaches, general managers, and NBA Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations Rod Thorn.[1] His final game was Game 4 of the 2001 NBA Finals, played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 13, 2001. Evans wore the uniform number 25 during his career in the NBA. He currently serves as an assistant supervisor of officials in the NBA front office. Hugh Evans developed his officiating skills at The Mitchell Houses Recreation Center in the Bronx, New York where he ref'd many a game. I know, I was a regular there having lived on 137th St and Willis Ave. I'm also lucky to be alive now and 61 yrs old. I have respectful memories of Hugh and his son who was a friend when I was 10-11 years old.
Life
Evans attended North Carolina A&T and was drafted in the 12th round (80th selection overall) of the 1962 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. Instead of playing in the NBA, he elected to go into baseball and spent three years in the San Francisco Giants minor league organization. In the late 1960s, Evans decided to go into officiating in New York City and later in 1972 was hired by the NBA.
Memorable moments
- Evans became dehydrated and fainted at one point during Game 5 of the 1984 NBA Finals. He worked the first half of the game, but was replaced by John Vanak for the second half. This game was played in 97-degree heat in Boston Garden.[2]
References
- ↑ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n24_v91/ai_19381859
- ↑ Hubbard, Jan (June 9, 1984). "Celtics turn on heat, 121-103". The Dallas Morning News.
External links
- Evans closes out officiating career USA Today