Henry Fields
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 3, 1938 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 2024 (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",[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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
