FLORENCE, Ala. (October 23, 2026) – It's rare for someone to be within a few feet of a celebrity.
For some, that opportunity may come at a scheduled meet-and-greet for the general public. Often times, one would have to pay for that opportunity. Sometimes, it happens on the off chance a celebrity is spotted out in public. It might also come while attending a sporting event.
For former University of North Alabama men's basketball standout Taye Fields, not only was he within a few feet of one of the most known celebrities in the history of the world, but both were there for the same purpose.
Back in June, Fields was signed to an NBA Summer League contract with the Philadephia 76ers and played five games for the franchise in Las Vegas. In fact, he was in the starting lineup. Fields had enough success in Vegas to attract more attention from the franchise, as he was offered an Exhibit-10 contract on Oct. 16.
When Fields reported to the locker room and approached his locker, he was shocked to see the name next to his.
"I was next to LeBron…which was kind of funny," Fields said.
That's right. LeBron James.
This is the man who many argue to be the greatest basketball player in the history of the sport. The player who is often compared to the original greatest of all time Michael Jordan. The player who was drafted No. 1 overall in 2003 and is entering his 24th season in 2026. The man with more points than any other player in league history. And the man who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason.
While James is at the tail end of his career — at least one would think — Fields walked into that locker room at the genesis of his.
"When I got the news, I was in disbelief," Fields said. "It's a surreal moment. I'm just grateful to be around those type of people and watch how they prepare for games. I'm trying to learn everything I can."
An Exhibit-10 contract — better known as an E-10 — is a one-year, non-guarenteed NBA minimum-salary contract that includes a special attachment designed for training camp and G-League development. Some of those contracts can be converted into a two-way contract prior to the regular season.
After training camp, Fields was waived along with three others and will start the season with the Delaware Blue Coats. This is the official G-League team affiliated with the 76ers.
What does this mean for Fields?
A player in the G-League is the equivalent of a professional baseball player in Triple-A or a professional hockey player in the AHL. Essentially, Fields is in the organization and one phone call away from being back in an NBA locker room.
"(The 76ers) have great people in the organization from top to bottom," said Fields. "I created a lot of good relationships with the people there, so being able to see them again just put a big smile on my face. I'm just grateful that they believed in me enough to take a chance on me."
When Fields got the initial call in June, he became the first UNA basketball player to be associated with an NBA team since UNA Hall of Famer Otis Boddie. Back in 1980, Boddie was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers after leading UNA to the 1979 NCAA Division II National Championship and becoming the all-time leading scorer for the program.
"We are incredibly proud of Taye Fields and his signing with the Philadelphia 76ers," said UNA head coach Tony Pujol, who enters his ninth season with the program in 2026-27. "Taye will hold a special place in our program's history, as he led North Alabama Men's Basketball to the first conference championship of the Division I era."
Fields was an instrumental part of the 2024-25 team that went 24-11 overall, winning a share of the Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championship and making the school's first appearance in the NIT.
Fields won the 2024-25 Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Year, earned second team all-conference honors and was named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team. He ranked second in the ASUN and 32nd nationally with 300 rebounds (8.6 RPG) and was the only player in the league to rank top three in both steals and blocks.
Pujol said that Fields' value goes well-beyond his all-around athleticism.
"Beyond his accomplishments on the court, Taye is a young man of tremendous character, discipline and work ethic. He represents everything we want for our program to stand for, and we couldn't be happier to see him earn this opportunity. We look forward to watching him continue to grow and succeed at the next level."
After his time at UNA, Fields went on to play in Austria for the Hefte Helfen Bulls. In his rookie professional season, he won BSL Defensive Player of the Year and won the Finals MVP for the Austria Basketball Superliga. He was a regular starter for the Bulls, leading them to the Austrian Championship. He averaged 12.7 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game.
Whether he's playing oversees in Austria, under the bright lights in Las Vegas, at the facility in Philadelphia or working the ranks in the G-League, Fields said he takes his UNA pride with him.
"It means the world to me to be able to represent UNA on the pro level," he said. "All of the people that supported us and put their time, energy and effort to help us athletes accomplish our dreams come around full circle is amazing. To give them something to be proud of and to see their commitment means everything and that all the hard work paid off in the end."
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
