Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team. They mix athleticism, theater, entertainment, and comedy in their games. They have played many games in many countries. Most of their games are against teams like the Washington Generals.

One famous part of their performances is a song called "Sweet Georgia Brown". Their mascot is a globe named "Globie". The team is owned by Herschend, and they continue to entertain fans with their fun basketball shows.

History

The Harlem Globetrotters started in 1926 in Chicago. They were a basketball team that played shows before dances. Over time, they became famous for mixing basketball with comedy and fun tricks.

They played many games around the world and were known for their exciting shows. One of their famous opponents was the Washington Generals, a team that often played against them for fun. The Globetrotters made history by including the first black players in the NBA and later added the first woman player in 1985.

Roster

The Harlem Globetrotters have played in many games around the world. They often played against teams like the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals. These games were fun because they mixed basketball skills with comedy, making them exciting for everyone to watch.

Draft

Since 2007, the Harlem Globetrotters have held an annual "draft" just before the NBA draft. In this draft, they pick players they think would fit well with the team. Being chosen doesn’t mean the player will join the Globetrotters, but some players have joined after being drafted.

Some famous people picked in the Globetrotters' draft include Sun Mingming, Patrick Ewing Jr., Sonny Weems, Taylor Griffin, Tim Howard, Mark Titus, Lionel Messi, Jordan McCabe, then only 12 years old, Andrew Goudelock, Usain Bolt, Mariano Rivera, Brittney Griner, Johnny Manziel, Landon Donovan, Mo'ne Davis, Dude Perfect, Kevin Hart, Neymar, Missy Franklin, Jordan Spieth, Craig Sager, Gal Gadot, Aaron Judge, Tim Tebow, Paul Pogba, Joe Kilgore, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Mahershala Ali, Mookie Betts, and Chadwick Boseman.

Retired numbers

The Harlem Globetrotters have honored eight players by retiring their numbers.

Honorary members

Ten people have been named as honorary members of the Harlem Globetrotters. They include famous individuals like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Whoopi Goldberg, and Nelson Mandela.

The team also gave special honorary contracts to Bill Cosby and Magic Johnson. The team said they had not worked with Cosby for many years after some people made claims about him.