Hank DeZonie facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 12, 1922 Harlem, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | January 2, 2009 (aged 86) Harlem, New York |
| Listed height | 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 pounds (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Clark Atlanta (1941–1942) |
| Career history | |
| 1948–1949 | Dayton Rens |
| 1950–1951 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
Henry Lincoln DeZonie (born February 12, 1922 – died January 2, 2009) was an American professional basketball player. He was one of the first African American players to join the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the fourth black player in the league.
Contents
Early Basketball Career
Hank DeZonie was a tall player, standing 6 feet 6 inches. He played as a forward or center. He went to Clark Atlanta University in the 1940s. After college, he joined the Dayton Rens. This was an all-black traveling basketball team. The team was named after the Harlem Renaissance.
In 1948, the Rens joined the National Basketball League (NBL). This league had both black and white players. During the 1948–49 NBL season, DeZonie played well. He scored an average of 12.4 points in 18 games.
Joining the NBA
By August 1949, many NBL teams joined the new NBA. But the Dayton Rens team was not included in this merger. So, the Rens had to break up. The NBA started its 1949–50 season with only white players.
Black players did not join the NBA until the 1950–51 NBA season. On December 3, 1950, Hank DeZonie signed a contract. He joined the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. This made him the fourth black player in the NBA. The first three were Earl Lloyd, Nathaniel Clifton, and Chuck Cooper.
Short NBA Time
DeZonie's time in the NBA was very short. He played only five games for the Blackhawks. He averaged 3.4 points per game. He decided to leave the team because of unfair treatment. He also had disagreements with his coach.
DeZonie said he was frustrated with the situation. He felt the coach did not understand basketball. He also did not like the unfair treatment he faced. Other black players also had tough times. But they stayed in the league for at least six seasons.
Later Recognition
For a long time, many basketball fans forgot about DeZonie's contributions. This was because his NBA career was so short. However, he has received more recognition in recent years.
In 2000, the NBA honored DeZonie. They recognized him as one of their black pioneers. This happened at a special event at Madison Square Garden. A basketball historian named Ron Thomas also wrote about DeZonie. He highlighted DeZonie's achievements in his 2004 book, They Cleared the Lane.
Life After Basketball
Hank DeZonie passed away on January 2, 2009, at 86 years old. In his later years, he had lung conditions.
DeZonie spent his adult life as a business owner. He and his wife, Rose DeZonie, were important people in the Harlem community. They owned and ran the Renny Lounge. This lounge was open until 1990. It was located on 138th Street and 7th Avenue. It was also under the famous Renaissance Ballroom.
See also
- Race and ethnicity in the NBA
