The Harlem Globetrotters are a team of comedic and talented basketball players. They were founded in 1926 by Abe Saperstein and have been entertaining audiences with their athletic stunts and blindingly quick dribbling skills for almost 100 years. The Harlem Globetrotters are most well-known for their basketball games against the Washington Generals.
These two teams have faced off 193 times since 1952, with the Globetrotters winning nearly 97% of them. The Harlem Globetrotters are genuinely one of a kind. They have won six World Professional Basketball Tournament titles, appeared in thousands of schools worldwide, entertained over 150 million fans in 88 countries on 171 different tours, and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon!
Today, the Harlem Globetrotters is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment. The team’s headquarters is in Phoenix, Arizona, where they continue to develop new tricks and techniques that dazzle and amaze their fans worldwide. A total of 32 men and women make up this unique group: 12 on the court at one time wearing completely white uniforms, 5 referees dressed in black who never actually play but help officiate the game, 4 in-arena hosts, and several other team staff members who help make the Globetrotters such a successful organization.
Today’s Harlem Globetrotters use many of the same tricks and techniques to entertain their audiences, and they continue to add new ones. One of the most popular is “Magic Circle,” where three men join hands with a fourth player who circles the circle completely unharmed by his teammates. Another amazing stunt is when two players simultaneously make baskets from opposite ends of the court, all while blindfolded!
In addition to being known for their basketball abilities, the Harlem Globetrotters are well-respected throughout popular culture for their charity work and promoting positive values through sportsmanship. In 2009, they were awarded the Spirit of Good Sports Award, and they have played more than 20,000 games—one in every U.S. state and 42 countries around the world!
So, Who Are the Harlem Globetrotters of Today?
The players on the team today touring include sharp-shooter TNT, the high-flying Big Easy Lofton, dunker Thunder Law, trickster Hi-Lite Bruton, and dribbling sensation Bull Bullard. These players are known for their high-flying dunks, sharpshooting skills, and incredible ball control that amazes audiences of all ages. In addition to the players on today’s team, some of the most notable Harlem Globetrotters from years past include Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins, Meadowlark Lemon, Curly Neal, and Marques Haynes. Reece “Goose” Tatum, and many more!
TNT is the only player who has been on the team for over 20 years and is well-known both for his incredible basketball skills and his fantastic dribbling ability. Rumor has it that when TNT was young, he played an entire game against older players by himself, dribbled the ball half of the time with his feet, and still managed to win!
Big Easy Lofton started playing in 2010 after stinting at Oklahoma State University, where he received All-Conference Honors. He is known for his superb athleticism, lightning speed, and passing abilities.
Hi-Lite Bruton also joined in 2010, fresh off of three seasons at Baylor University, where he was crucial to their NCAA Tournament run in 2010. Bruton made headlines in 2011 for his record-breaking performance at the NBA Combine, where he recorded a three-quarter court standing dunk.
Bull Bullard joined in 1998 and is known for his signature move: throwing one-handed full-court shots that almost always go in!
The Classic Globetrotters
Curly Neal is perhaps one of the most famous Globetrotters players, as his dribbling and passing skills were previously unknown to many teams he faced. He was also a great showman who frequently played against Hollywood celebrities.
Meadowlark Lemon is another star player from the past who made history on the court. Meadowlark has won several championship rings with the team. Even more impressive is that he holds a 30-game winning streak in all-star games, a streak that started after an injury had sidelined him for several months during his prime!
Marques Hayne’s ball-handling was so dangerous that other teams would not let him dribble the ball up the court instead of passing it to another player.
Wilt Chamberlain played for the team in 1966-1967, and he revealed his athleticism by performing slam dunks that had never before been seen on a regulation basketball court. He was also one of the highest-paid players at $50,000 per year for this brief period.
Geese Ausbie was a great African American Globetrotters player during the 1980s who won more than 2,000 games and entertained over 50 million people. Additionally, Ausbie invented several incredible dribbling and ball-handling techniques that are still used today.
Today’s Harlem Globetrotters are just as entertaining as their predecessors, who first made history back in 1927 when they defeated the all-white team Savoy Big Five with only 2 players (the rest were substitutes). The game was broadcast over radio airwaves across America! The Globetrotters continue to win and make their fans laugh while also providing inspiration and support to younger players who want to grow up and continue the legacy that these men have started.
As you can see, the Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining players of all ages since 1926, and they continue to entertain millions of people today with their amazing athleticism, teamwork, fun-loving personalities, and love for making people laugh. The Harlem Globetrotters show is a heartwarming experience that transcends race and creed to bring happiness and laughter to fans of all ages. The joyful atmosphere makes it one of the few live shows where adults can be completely childlike and silly without embarrassment.
Today the Harlem Globetrotters can be seen performing in more than 100 countries each year. They have hundreds of events scheduled around the world at any given moment, with multiple shows happening concurrently at venues ranging from small high school gyms to large stadiums where they often play before spectators numbering in the tens of thousands. The Harlem Globetrotters will continue to provide family-friendly entertainment for years to come, entertaining people of all ages with their incredible feats on the hardwood.