3 notable NBA stars that played for the Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining fans of all ages for decades and have continued to have an influence over the NBA’s storied legacy.

The decades of trick shots and hilarious gags for the entire family to enjoy on the basketball court have made the Harlem Globetrotters well-known worldwide. The team has been around since the 1920s and their popularity has led to numerous television shows, movies and any other relevant pop culture moments in the country.

The legendary players such as Curly Neal or Meadowlark Lemon may not be around today, but the road trip show continues moving around the country. The players today continue the tour from arena to arena, usually inhabited by NBA teams.

The current roster’s latest addition is 4’5″, Jahmani “Hot Rod” Swanson from Harlem, New York and he’s very confident in the team’s ability to beat current NBA teams, most notably the New York Knicks. He spoke with the media recently after being officially signed by the Globetrotters earlier this month.

"“We’re a super hero team, I think the Knicks would be done in by our skills, We have players that could play in the NBA and they chose this path.”"

Swanson’s confidence isn’t too farfetched as the team recently made a stop by the Brooklyn Nets practice facility ahead of their post-Christmas shows at Barclays Center. The reaction from players such as Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen shows the continued impact of the team regardless of who is wearing the jersey.

I spoke with a few fans in the audience of the squad’s most recent show in Brooklyn, New York and it confirmed the impact among families while catching the interest of first-time spectators.

The continued connection between the Globetrotters and NBA has more parallels regarding a few special players that have donned both uniforms. Here are three notable former Globetrotters that also were stars in the NBA.