Hank DeZonie
Encyclopedia
Henry "Hank" Lincoln DeZonie (February 12, 1922 – January 2, 2009) was an American
professional basketball
player. He was the fourth African-American player in the National Basketball Association
(NBA), following Earl Lloyd
, Nat Clifton, and Chuck Cooper.
A 6'6" forward/center
, DeZonie attended Clark Atlanta University
in the 1940s and then joined the Rens
, an all-black travelling basketball team named after the Harlem Renaissance
. The Rens joined the integrated
National Basketball League
in 1948, and during the 1948-49 NBL season, DeZonie averaged 12.4 points per game in 18 games.
By August 1949, most of the teams in the NBL had been absorbed by the fledging NBA. The Rens, however, were left out of the merger, and they were forced to disband as the NBA began its 1949-50 season
as an all-white league. Black players did not enter the league until the start of the 1950-51 NBA season
, when Lloyd, Clifton, and Cooper earned roster spots on the Rochester Royals
, New York Knicks
, and Boston Celtics
, respectively. On December 3, 1950, DeZonie signed a contract with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
, becoming the fourth black player in the NBA.
DeZonie had the shortest career among the NBA's black pioneers, due mainly to racial discrimination and disagreements with his coach. After appearing in just five games for the Blackhawks, during which he averaged 3.4 points, DeZonie quit in frustration. "The coach didn't know basketball, and I couldn't bother with segregation. They put me up with an old woman who chewed tobacco and the snow was up to the ceiling. I was past that," he said. DeZonie's fellow black players experienced frustrations, as well, but each of them remained in the league for at least six seasons.
Because of his relatively short career, DeZonie's contributions were long forgotten by many basketball fans; recently, however, DeZonie has received more recognition. In 2000, for example, the NBA honored DeZonie as one of its black pioneers at a pregame ceremony at Madison Square Garden
. Basketball historian Ron Thomas also highlighted DeZonie's accomplishments in his 2004 book They Cleared the Lane (ISBN 0-8032-9454-9).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was the fourth African-American player in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA), following Earl Lloyd
Earl Lloyd
Earl Francis Lloyd is a retired American basketball player. He was the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association, in the 1950-51 NBA season...
, Nat Clifton, and Chuck Cooper.
A 6'6" forward/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, DeZonie attended Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
in the 1940s and then joined the Rens
Dayton Rens
The Dayton Rens were a member of the USA National Basketball League for the 1948-49 season and were the only all-black team to play in a white league. This milestone came just one year after Jackie Robinson, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball...
, an all-black travelling basketball team named after the Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
. The Rens joined the integrated
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
in 1948, and during the 1948-49 NBL season, DeZonie averaged 12.4 points per game in 18 games.
By August 1949, most of the teams in the NBL had been absorbed by the fledging NBA. The Rens, however, were left out of the merger, and they were forced to disband as the NBA began its 1949-50 season
1949-50 NBA season
The 1949–50 NBA season was officially the 4th season of the National Basketball Association. However, it is the first season that the league is officially called the National Basketball Association...
as an all-white league. Black players did not enter the league until the start of the 1950-51 NBA season
1950-51 NBA season
The 1950–51 NBA season was the 5th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Rochester Royals winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
, when Lloyd, Clifton, and Cooper earned roster spots on the Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, respectively. On December 3, 1950, DeZonie signed a contract with the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, becoming the fourth black player in the NBA.
DeZonie had the shortest career among the NBA's black pioneers, due mainly to racial discrimination and disagreements with his coach. After appearing in just five games for the Blackhawks, during which he averaged 3.4 points, DeZonie quit in frustration. "The coach didn't know basketball, and I couldn't bother with segregation. They put me up with an old woman who chewed tobacco and the snow was up to the ceiling. I was past that," he said. DeZonie's fellow black players experienced frustrations, as well, but each of them remained in the league for at least six seasons.
Because of his relatively short career, DeZonie's contributions were long forgotten by many basketball fans; recently, however, DeZonie has received more recognition. In 2000, for example, the NBA honored DeZonie as one of its black pioneers at a pregame ceremony at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. Basketball historian Ron Thomas also highlighted DeZonie's accomplishments in his 2004 book They Cleared the Lane (ISBN 0-8032-9454-9).
External links
- Player statistics @ basketballreference.com