Current Events > Harlem Globetrotters To The NBA: Make Us A Pro Franchise Now

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https://www.npr.org/2021/06/23/1009316241/harlem-globetrotters-to-the-nba-dont-get-it-twisted-make-us-a-pro-franchise-now

The Harlem Globetrotters say it's high time for the NBA to make them a part of the highest professional basketball league as a franchise.

In an open letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the Harlem Globetrotters called on Silver to recognize the team's decades of contributions to the league. "As the NBA grew, you were able to attract the best Black players, but we remember who helped the NBA get it all started," the letter read.

It went on to say, "You can't just act like we don't exist anymore. It's time to right the wrongs and rewrite history. It's time for the NBA to honor what the Globetrotters have done for OUR sport, both here in the U.S. and around the globe."

The team is an exhibition basketball team and, since its inception in 1926, has won 27,000 games and played in 123 countries. The team said in its letter it believes it is on par with the other professional teams out there today.

Notableplayers such as Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton got their start with the Globetrotters before eventually ending up in the NBA.

In 1940, the Globetrotters won their first World Basketball Championship, defeating the Chicago Bruins. In 1948 and 1949, the Globetrotters twice defeated the world champion Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA, influencing the discussion over Black players being allowed to join the game on a professional level, according to the Globetrotter's history.

Following the victories over the Lakers, Clifton became one of the first Black men to play in the NBA, signing a contract with the league when he joined the New York Knicks in 1950.

The NBA and its players have advocated for social justice and racial equality in recent years. But the Globetrotters said their innovation and contributions to the league namely to the NBA's integration brought it to where it is now.

"Don't get us wrong, we love what y'all have done recently and we are proud of how your players are standing up to make a difference in their communities," the team wrote. "But don't get it twisted; basketball would not be what it is today without us."

The NBA has yet to respond to this letter.

NBA expansion is already on the table

To get the Harlem Globetrotters to join the league, the NBA would have to approve a league expansion.

In December, NBA Commissioner Silver told press before the start of the pandemic-shortened season that expanding the league was on the table.

"I think I've always said that it's sort of the manifest destiny of the league that you expand at some point," Silver said at the time. "I'd say it's caused us to maybe dust off some of the analyses on the economic and competitive impacts of expansion. We've been putting a little bit more time into it than we were pre-pandemic. But certainly not to the point that expansion is on the front burner."

Seattle has been a reported top choice for expansion. The city used to be home to the Supersonics, but the team left in 2008 for Oklahoma City. It was renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA last expanded when the Charlotte Bobcats, now the Hornets, were added in 2004.

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Yeah sure, why not?

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I like the Globetrotters and all, but I see no incentive for the NBA to do this.

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Would they still be able to do crazy shit if they played in the NBA?
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i mean sure, traveling is so 1982 anyway

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yeah why not, give virginia beach a franchise to balance it out

also do that for the nfl when they expand to london

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Aren't they a gimmick team or something? I didn't think they played it seriously

unnamedsoldier posted...

Aren't they a gimmick team or something? I didn't think they played it seriously

lots of the teams in the league don't play it seriously, so what?

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PatrickMahomes posted...

"I think I've always said that it's sort of the manifest destiny of the league that you expand at some point,"

que

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Smashingpmkns posted...

Would they still be able to do crazy shit if they played in the NBA?

Most of the trick shots they do are illegal but even if they weren't doing them in a real game against defense is too risky to try.

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Okay, but only if the Washington Generals get in too.

Now that bron bron aint the face of the nba now sure wait, we need to ask China if theyre cool with it

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So NYC would have 3 teams? Lol

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if they did they wouldn't be able to do anything they did. probably get destroyed. i remember seeing them as a kid and it was fun to watch but their competition is like random pick up games at the park. let them play a game against the all rookie team.

globetrotters would legit go 0-82 playing with enforced rules.

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ShineboxPhil posted...

globetrotters would legit go 0-82 playing with enforced rules.

I highly doubt that. They no doubt have actual Ill to play the game.

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ghettoraider81 posted...

I highly doubt that. They no doubt have actual Ill to play the game.

they're a gimmick team of players not good enough to make the nba.
unless the globetrotters wipe their team completely and the nba does an expansion draft where they select unprotected players from other nba team, they'll get crushed with their current roster.

the globetrotters are entertainers first before they are considered athletes.

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