Melissa Forman in the Morning

Melissa Forman in the Morning

Melissa Forman in the MorningFull Bio

 

The Harlem Globetrotters Want an NBA Franchise ‘Right Now’

Harlem Globetrotters At The Orleans Arena In Las Vegas

Photo: Getty Images North America

  • The world-famous exhibition basketball team, The Harlem Globetrotters, wants an NBA franchise.
  • In a petition to league boss Adam Silver, the Globetrotters wrote "As an organization whose storied history is already tightly interwoven within that of the NBA, the Harlem Globetrotters are looking for a long-overdue seat at the table."
  • 72 years after its last NBA meeting, the team wrote "Our players were instrumental in the integration of the league dating back to 1949. We stood proudly as our players were recruited by NBA teams."
  • The Globetrotters' petition ended with "After years of attracting the best Black players, it’s time the NBA recognized our contribution to the game. With the league already considering an expansion, the time has come. The Harlem Globetrotters stand ready to negotiate for a franchise."
  • The team's absolutely correct. NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain was a Globetrotter. So was the first Black player to sign an NBA contract, Nat Sweetwater. The first Black man to play in an NBA game, Earl Lloyd, was another Globetrotter.
  • The NBA has yet to comment.

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