(00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:40) - Car Accident That Changed His Career (00:19:06) - KG & Farragut Academy Stories (00:27:30) - When did he get his athleticism (00:31:50) - Nike Slam Dunk Contest (00:37:00) - Secret run vs. MJ story (00:41:35) - Did He Ever Feel like Himself After Accident? (00:45:40) - Honoring Ronnie at 96' McDonald's game (00:51:40) - Coaching in Chicago (00:55:40) - AAU landscape, Euro vs. USA (01:06:34) - Current Day NBA, Best Player in the World (01:10:45) - Quick Hitters (01:17:19) - End
People may not believe this. I don't care. I seen Ronnie Fields with my own eyes playing pick up and thought he was a pro. They told me he was just a sophomore. The kid was the most athletic athlete I ever seen. I saw him do shhh in highschool that till this day I haven't seen again since. He actually had a cult following. Old head legends would pack in the gym to watch. We all who played knew, he was a phenomenal player that had reached Chicago legend status.
I'm all in on believing. I saw Ronnie Fields at a Christmas tournament in Peoria, IL. My younger brother was raving about him when I came home for Christmas while serving away in the Air Force in 1990 something - I had never heard of him. It was as if he choreoghraphed the first half at shooting jumpers, mid-range and threes, while the second half he went off with high-flying dunks. He moved like Jordan, with a relaxed quickness and explosiveness. I think they played one of our better city teams Manual High School, who had a 6'5" star player Sergio McClain. Ronnie Fields dunked over him literally. Spread his legs and flew right over him and dunked, out of a half-court set. He had 40 something in the game. I was in awe of what I witnessed that night. He was the true "Baby Jordan" with an all around game.
I was a HS freshman wannabe hooper in North Louisiana in 96. I normally download and listen. When I saw Ronnie Fields, I jumped straight to the RU-vid in case they had photos or videos and just to see him. Word spread about him down to Louisiana!
A basketball legend. Being a kid in the Southside of Chicago, we would have debates in school about Ronnie Fields in HS already being better than Jordan in the NBA. He was the real deal and definitely would have been one of those ones if that accident never happened.
My guy need a movie bro…dude was unreal…never seen in real time a cat that had that type of hops…respect to tha Chi-Town legend. Glad he got his flowers he was the real deal. He was different. Need the movie. Asap!
I hooped against Ronnie back in high school. I played at Marshall in the Red West. I remember this freshman player tried to dunk on me from the baseline but the ball got stuck on the rim. I remember him floating because he took off so far from the rim. I was like "Okay this is not a regular 14-year-old hooping on varsity." Lol
S/O to Ronnie Fields, he used to come to LA Fitness every morning, i worked at about 8 years ago every morning. one of the coolest dudes and always spoke some knowledge to me on ball and life. Glad to see he's doing well and impacting so many kids lives. We all know he would have been one of the coldest guards in the league if it wasn't for the accident. CHICAGO LEGEND
Ronnie was my childhood hero, had his newspapers all over my wall.... I drove through a snowstorm to watch him play, he had 5 dunks... white boy from the suburbs checking in... this is all you need to know, considering this was pre-social media.
Ronnie Fields is a LEGEND for real here in Chicago and I feel like in the entire world. Can you imagine what it would have been like if he was in the NBA with Kobe and the rest? I remember playing a pick up game on the west side (I’m a south sider) and within 5 minutes Ronnie made us look like children bro. We are the same age and he destroyed our team. He took off at the dotted and could have dunked on two of our guys, but he rolled them like “they ain’t even worth me dunking” bro….disrespectful bro….literally one of the greatest basketball players ever. Much respect to you Ronnie
As a kid hearing about him and Garnett was all hype until you saw them play and you seen what the hype was!!!! 😮🤯😳 To see them play was crazy!! The plays they did on a weam was unbelievable!!!😱😱😱What did I just see???!!!!
This is a full circle moment! Hearing all the stories about Ronnie from other NBA legends and players, then finally getting to hear some of them from the man himself! 😤😤😤#ATS 💨💨💨
Man you teo brothers have had on Ronnie fields and Schea Cotton. Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes God bless you too man you guys deserve everything in the future I hope the best in your future endeavors and so much love goes you guys this way for taking the time out to recognize these greats that I remember in high school that could have been some of the best probably ever to play in the NBA but due to unfortunate circumstances they never got their shine so thank you for giving it to them here because they really were influential in our lives and I know especially in my life and thank you once again. ❤🙏🏽😇✌🏾 Joseph L.
I think he made a great point about the parents. I'm in Baltimore and we go through the same thing. When I look at how the parents are it shows in the kids. Not trying to disrespect anyone but for a certain rapper in Chicago that past, when you see his mom, you see why she lost children to murder. She was wild herself
So glad to see that Young Dunkinstien is looking well and adjusted to life beyond the Court. I always wonder what an injury free Fields would have accomplished. Chicago had a two decade run of Talent in the mid 70's through the mid 90s that was indescribable. Still think "What If" Depaul and U of I had got all the Home talent during those years. All the NCAA Championships would reside in Illinois. Fields....Livingston....Wilson What If's Also another one that is a mystery is Teddy Grubbs We Hoop Fans were Blessed by Classic City Basketball Wars during H.S. seasons .....But Summer Leagues were off the Chain.......Summertime Chi....smh
At Illinois State University I didn't even know who he was but we on the court together for a game at camp. I'm wondering why so many people was coming to watch me play. I was one of the best in the state. I quickly realized it wasn't me, lol!!! First play of the game some one on our team shot a jump shot Ronnie stood flat footed jumped straight up a grabbed dude jump shot out the air. Then he went down on a one man fast break and gave the crowd what they came to see!!!!! GAME ON! Following summer we were AAU teammates! Really good dude!
Man out of all the “great that never was” stories this one bugs me the most. I grew up in Chicago during KG and Ronnie’s run and the fact that he didn’t go pro is just unfair. Glad to see he’s in good health and spirits.
With ALL the cats that made it to the league in this group, I hope you guys looked out for him financially. Even if it was a paid off income property or single-family home. It’s only right. 💪🏽👍🏽🤜🏽🤛🏽👊🏽🤟🏾
I know that's your boy Jack, but Ronnie was not rated over Kobe in H.S...even before the accident...Kobe, Tim Thomas & Jermaine O'Neil were all ranked higher, Ronnie might of been ranked higher than Mike Bibby...I'm not sure... but I just don't want the narrative changed, and I'm a huge Ronnie Fields fan
Listening to Ronnie and Stack talk about some of their Classmates....not the NBA Stars but some that got a couple cups of Coffee.....Like Paul McPherson. To hear young people try and tell you how much more athletic players are today...😂😂😂 McPherson and Corey Benjamin were uber athletic. McPherson was able to get years in the league of the strength of his Athleticism not BBall fundamentals and skill. His speed strength and jumping allowed him to belong on NBA Courts. There's so many others from ChiTown lore and across the Country that were faster quicker and have more hops than current players. If they were allowed to Carry and Eurostep like the Modern NBA.....smh They would Kill imagine how D Rose was Cooking the NBA before injury. There were many players that approached that ability to give Smoke to the New Breed. People who witnessed the Chi Summer Leagues which were full of Pro Runs can attest to the talent athleticism that Developed the DRoses and Wades.
Idk Ronny Fields but I cld tell he short,like e same height of Steph Curry.Whc is bout 5,4.Wen I looked in ese comments bout dis PG dunking in high sch.I was astonished!!😳
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I have to connect with Ronnie some how I've seen that Nike tape there's a copy floating around the Northside of Chicago stolen from Fields Elementary were I assistant coached Coach Foyer had a grainy VHS copy and one of are student/athletes Mitchell, Rob, Greg, Tristan, and O.B or B.K one of y'all know who got That Tape!!!🤨
I attended Farragut a few years before Ronnie. I was curious about him and the new kid Kevin Garnett, so I went to see them. In the parking lot were cars from Wisconsin and the gym was packed. I stood next to a reporter from channel 5 (Mark Schanowski) when Ronnie went up to catch a ball off the rim to dunk it. He jumped from within the dotted line just past the free throw line to catch it out of the air. He was fouled in the process but I couldn't believe what I saw. I looked at the reporter and said "did he just do that?" We both were shocked. And he was grabbing headlines in the Chicago papers about equal to MJ during that time, no exaggeration. Go Admirals!!!
i graduated HS in 1996. I live in MN, Chicago is only 6 hours away driving, 5 if you know where to go. I hoop back then too. I used read Streets and Smiths Basketball Mags. I used to go the page, where they had all of the players ranked. They would do overall, regional, position etc. Ronnie Fields was #1 in all of the categories. Kobe wasn't even mention then. Class of 1995 and 1996 were the greatest HS years in basketball. BubbaChuck was locked up and he was supposed to play in McDonalds in 95. But anyway, Fields was on his way to being the first guard to pro, imo. He was that good. Back then like he said, it was much harder, because the bar was so high, but he was already over that bar. I'm glad he is still here to share his story. It aint no what if. He still a legend and always will be a legend!
A hero of my neighborhood. It’s crazy seeing the homie on here. Everything was crazy back then and chi raw naw man it was wayyyy crazier then. He was a men amongst boys. Props to you big homie
