 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1938-05-03)May 3, 1938 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 2024(2024-10-26) (aged 86) |
| Nationality | American / French |
| Listed height | 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) |
| Career information | |
| College | Elizabeth City (1955–1959) |
| Position | Center |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1960–1962 | OC Orleans |
| 1962–1963 | Paris Université Club |
| 1965–1966 | Stade Français |
| 1966–1971 | Olympique d'Antibes |
| 1972–1975 | AS Monaco |
| 198?–198? | US Ville d'Avra |
| As coach: | |
| 1987–1988 | AS Tarare Basket |
| 1981–1986 | US Ville d'Avra |
| 1998 | US Auterive Basketball |
| 2000 | ASPTT-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", he won the French national championship in 1963 and 1970 and was named the French championship Foreign Player of the Year in 1970. Fields played college basketball at the Elizabeth City State Teachers College where he earned CIAA All-Conference honors.
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.
Personal life and death
Following his basketball career, Fields settled in France with his Norwegian wife.
In 2018, the sports arena in Auterive was named Halle Henry Fields in his honour.
Fields died on October 26, 2024, at the age of 86.
References
- ^ 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.
- 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.
- "Henry Fields". ffbb.com. Fédération Française de Basketball. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Cyril Doumergue (9 September 2018). "Henry Fields, un géant américain à Auterive". La Dépêche du Midi (in French). Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- Pat McKinzie (December 1987). "Vive le Basketball!". Off Duty. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- "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.
- "Décès de la première légende américaine du basket français, Henry Fields". Basketball Europe (in French). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.