Hugh Evans, a member of the basketball hall of fame's class of 2022, passed away Friday morning, according to his wife.
The man was 81.
He was named to the hoop hall on his third try. He was an NBA referee for over twenty years. There were 35 NBA finals contests and four NBA All-Star Games. The NBA senior vice presidents ranked him as the second-best official in the league during the 1995-96 season.
Evans was an NBA assistant supervisor of officials for two years after he retired. He's a member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. Evans will be posthumously inducted into the basketball hall of fame.
Evans wasn't sure what it meant when he was named to the Hall of Fame. I am working on it. You get emotional when I hear it, and I know that I am special. God chose me to be special.
Ken Hudson was the first NBA ref from a historically Black college or university. Nine of the 73 NBA referees were from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Evans said he was proud to be an NBA ref. He told Andscape that being a black NBA official was the biggest challenge. He said his professionalism on and off the court earned him respect.
It was difficult to be accepted by the coaches, players, fans and general managers. They didn't think black refs could do the job. The first Black to do so was me. I made it to the finals. They said, "This guy is good." We will allow him time.
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