Henry Fields

Henry Fields
Personal information
Born(1938-05-03)May 3, 1938
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 2024(2024-10-26) (aged 86)
NationalityAmerican / French
Listed height197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Career information
CollegeElizabeth City (1955–1959)
PositionCenter
Career history
As player:
1960–1962OC Orleans
1962–1963Paris Université Club
1965–1966Stade Français
1966–1971Olympique d'Antibes
1972–1975AS Monaco
198?–198?US Ville d'Avra
As coach:
1987–1988AS Tarare Basket
1981–1986US Ville d'Avra
1998US Auterive Basketball
2000ASPTT-Barguillère-Foix
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Henry Fields (May 3, 1938 – October 26, 2024) was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed "the Gentleman",[1] he won the French national championship in 1963 and 1970 and was named the French championship Foreign Player of the Year in 1970.[2][3] Fields played college basketball at the Elizabeth City State Teachers College where he earned CIAA All-Conference honors.[1]

Following his graduation from college, Fields entered the United States Army. Due to a three-year commitment, he was able to choose his assignment and chose France. He stated later that his choice was influenced by a Sports Illustrated feature on Jean-Claude Lefebvre, a French basketball player who played for the Gonzaga University. In France, he was stationed in Orléans where he became a member of the United States military team who he helped win gold at the European and World Military Basketball Championships.[4][5]

Personal life and death

Following his basketball career, Fields settled in France with his Norwegian wife.[4]

In 2018, the sports arena in Auterive was named Halle Henry Fields in his honour.[6]

Fields died on October 26, 2024, at the age of 86.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff (11 October 2023). "Book excerpt: The Gentleman, Bill Russell and Paris Université Club's U.S. Adventure". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2024.Closed access icon
  2. ^ Sylvain Cottin (2 June 2019). "Henry Fields : "J'étais champion de France et je crevais de froid dans une chambre de bonne"". Sud Ouest (in French). Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Henry Fields". ffbb.com. Fédération Française de Basketball. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b Cyril Doumergue (9 September 2018). "Henry Fields, un géant américain à Auterive". La Dépêche du Midi (in French). Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  5. ^ Pat McKinzie (December 1987). "Vive le Basketball!". Off Duty. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Le basketteur Henry Fields donne son nom à la halle de la ville". La Dépêche du Midi (in French). 31 May 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Décès de la première légende américaine du basket français, Henry Fields". Basketball Europe (in French). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.