Ronnie Fields is one of the most tragic stories in American sports history. A high school sensation, he attended Farragut Academy and was a former teammate of Kevin Garnett. Reports from the time claimed that Fields had a 50-inch vertical leap.

Fields led his team to an 11-1 record in his senior year and was named First Team Parade All-American. The 6’3″ guard possessed exceptional athleticism, helping him contribute on both ends of the floor, be it his ability to finish at the rim or block shots despite a small frame.

Earning comparisons to Michael Jordan and Kevin Garnett, Fields drew a lot of hype even before making his NBA debut. Little did he imagine that all his dreams would come shattering down when he was involved in a fatal accident that broke his neck just before the city playoffs.

Discussing his accident during a 2024 episode of the All The Smoke podcast, Fields recalled getting emotional when he was honored during a Bulls-Pistons game.

“I never forget, I think when Grant Hill was in the league, and they was honoring me that game when the Bulls was playing the Pistons. It was another emotional night to see all those people at that game, and they called me out last, and at the time, I was upgraded to just my neck brace, and when they called me out, that emotional part of it was unreal,” remembered Fields.

“Almost just like, fall on my knees on the court. Just to see the Pistons players, the Bulls, the crowd, because they haven’t seen me since that accident,” added Ronnie, reliving the emotional event.

Ronnie was confident about succeeding in the NBA

A high school phenom, Fields was predicted to be a runaway success despite his small frame. His dunking prowess and agility were some of his biggest USPs. Discussing how his career might have unfolded, Ronnie wondered why he could’ve been a successful NBA player.

“That was the Jordan era, the big guard era. I’m 6’3″ now, almost 6’4″, so at the time, they were saying that I would have to play the point. But you notice that era changed. Most of your scorers that come off the bench, your Jason Terry’s, Jamal Crawford’s, a lot of guys aren’t actual point guards. A lot has changed now. You can put two guards out 6’3″, 6’4″ together,” said Fields, who was confident about finding success in the modern era as well.

Fields was projected to make his NBA debut in the late 90s, at a time when small guards like John Stockton, Gary Payton and Allen Iverson had started to find success. At the same time, he would need to develop a jump shot, given that he primarily relied on finishing at the rim.

Taking the CBA route

Ronnie’s tragic accident had him re-evaluate many of his life choices. Among them was getting drafted in the CBA. He played for the Rockford Lightning, earning a spot on the All-Rookie second team. Trying his luck in the NBA as well, Fields found no takers in the 1998 draft.

Shifting his focus to the CBA, Fields found success, earning three All-CBA First Team selections, three CBA All-Star honors, and two scoring titles. The veteran guard also played in the Philippines, Turkey, Puerto Rico, and other countries.

Fields will remain one of the biggest what-ifs, given his success at such a young age. Despite a horrific incident that altered his dreams, he did not quit. In 2023, he was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, recognized for his high school success.Â