He was the fourth African-American player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), following Earl Lloyd, Nathaniel Clifton, and Chuck Cooper.

A 6'6" forward/center, DeZonie attended Clark Atlanta University in the 1940s and then joined the Dayton Rens, an all-black travelling basketball team named after the Harlem Renaissance.

[2] 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.

[2] DeZonie had the shortest career among the NBA's black pioneers, due mainly to racial discrimination and disagreements with his coach.

[5] Basketball historian Ron Thomas also highlighted DeZonie's accomplishments in his 2004 book They Cleared the Lane (ISBN 0-8032-9454-9).