Behold, the Harlem Globetrotters! Considered by many to be the world’s finest professional basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters reign supreme. They tour an incredible 400 cities across 25 countries in any given year – that’s sublime stuff! Every game played by the Harlem Globetrotters showcases the most exceptional basketball talent in the world. And one look at these guys and gals confirms it all – they’re superstars!
These athletes are battle-tested warriors, commanding the admiration and respect of an adoring worldwide fanbase. Alongside their larger-than-life presence, the Harlem Globetrotters are renowned for their legendary interactions with players everywhere they roam. Their basketball handling skills are sublime, their slam dunking prowess is out of this world, and their reputation speaks volumes. Fans lucky enough to see them in person are wowed by their performances. And for the rest of us, TV, YouTube, Instagram, X, and TikTok videos will suffice.
The Harlem Globetrotters are the veritable hoop kings of our time. They seamlessly weave in between players, glide across the court, and perform gravity-defying acrobatics in mid-air. These titans of the basketball realm electrify the crowds in real time with mesmerizing plays and near-perfect performances. The visual artistry of these athletes is beyond belief. It’s like watching the Olympics of Basketball with perfect plays. They have the finesse of World Champions and are as graceful as ballet dancers with atomic-powered muscles!
Fans already know what to expect: seemingly impossible basketball wizardry pulled off without a hitch, time and again. The fanfare around basketball and the legacy of the sport are so great that other types of games have emerged from its popularity, such as Hoop Kings. This digital rendering captures the essence of the majestic game in all its glory. It features a 5X3 slot grid with 2-way wins, game time, and slam dunk-free spins. Basketball enthusiasts will be satisfied as just one power spin of the reels or a slam dunk is all it takes to be impressed!
The Fascinating History of the Harlem Globetrotters
For those who don’t know, the Harlem Globetrotters include legendary characters like Harrison, Mac, Law, Middleton, Rivers, and Swanson. Other legendary athletes include George, Lister, Chisholm, Tompkins, Sharpless, and Winston. But that’s only a small sampling of the talent pool with this world-famous team. Hundreds of Harlem Globetrotters have graced the team with their brilliance, and many more are waiting for the shot of legendary status with this team.
The original Harlem Globetrotter team was founded back in 1926 by Abe Saperstein. The first road game was played in Hinckley, Illinois, on January 7, 1927. But it wasn’t until 1940 that they won their first world basketball championship, beating the Chicago Bruins. In 1948 and 1949, the Harlem Globetrotters smashed the champions, the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA. In 1951, they played in five of the biggest crowds ever – 75,000 people- at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
Over the years, this team has earned its five-star status from audiences worldwide. During the 1970s and the 1980s, a cartoon show was released on CBS – the Harlem Globetrotters. Like the iconic team, the eponymous show was a big hit with fans. In 1993, Mannie Jackson bought the team, and the Globetrotters managed to raise $11 million for charity under his stewardship. From the 2000s through to the present day, the Harlem Globetrotters have cemented their place in history as arguably the best-ever basketball team.
In fact, in 2002, it was reported that this team was the only one to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it had 13 players with ties. Today, the Harlem Globetrotters team is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment. Recall that they play 400 games annually in 25 countries around the world. Hundreds of men and women have already played for the team, and audiences include royalty, clergy, aristocracy, celebrities, presidents, and prime ministers.
While the Harlem Globetrotters have enthralled fans with their exceptional basketball mastery and rich history, another team has carved its niche in the world of basketball entertainment. Enter the Harlem Wizards, a team dedicated to combining athletic skill with a mission focused on community support and fundraising. Now, let’s explore how the Harlem Wizards create their brand of on-court magic.
Who are the Harlem Wizards?
The Harlem Wizards are another world-famous basketball team with six decades of basketball wizardry on the court. A creation of the legendary Howie Davis from 1962, the Wizards present an entirely different vision for basketball.
Granted, they are professional players, but they are a show basketball team tasked with fundraising for nonprofits and schools. As a case in point, the Wizards recently raised $3 million for nonprofits and schools across 450 communities in the USA.
For all its pomp and ceremony, the Harlem Wizards are doing phenomenal work, supporting the communities where they perform and entertaining the crowds with some of the most impressive trick shots, interactive showmanship, and crowd-pleasing antics imaginable. Currently, three units traverse the United States.
These include legendary athletes like Eric Broadway Jones, Dwayne Sweeney Simpson, David DP Paul, and King Arthur Lewis. Other high-profile names include Arnold Bernard, James Tyndal, and Devon Currie. The slam-dunking prowess of the Harlem Wizards is peerless – that’s what makes them the most entertaining basketball team of our time!