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3 notable NBA stars that played for the Harlem Globetrotters

By Ed Easton Jr.

GOOD MORNING AMERICA - The Harlem Globetrotters go for the Guinness Book World Record for most half court shots in an hour on 'Good Morning America,' on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, airing on the ABC Television Network.(Photo by Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images)HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
GOOD MORNING AMERICA - The Harlem Globetrotters go for the Guinness Book World Record for most half court shots in an hour on 'Good Morning America,' on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, airing on the ABC Television Network.(Photo by Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images)HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS /
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(Original Caption) 6/18/1958-New York, NY- Wilt ‘The Stilt’ Chamberlain, twice All-American at the University of Kansas, bedazzles Harlem Globetrotters’ boss Abe Saperstein (R) with his basketball palming technique, after it was announced that Chamberlain had signed to play for the famous all-Negro team for a record high of $65,000 for one season. Chamberlain, who passed up his remaining year of eligibility at Kansas, becomes the draft choice of the pro Philadelphia Warriors next season.
(Original Caption) 6/18/1958-New York, NY- Wilt ‘The Stilt’ Chamberlain, twice All-American at the University of Kansas, bedazzles Harlem Globetrotters’ boss Abe Saperstein (R) with his basketball palming technique, after it was announced that Chamberlain had signed to play for the famous all-Negro team for a record high of $65,000 for one season. Chamberlain, who passed up his remaining year of eligibility at Kansas, becomes the draft choice of the pro Philadelphia Warriors next season. /

1. Wilt Chamberlain

One of the greatest players in NBA history was once a member of the legendary Globetrotters during the late 1950s. The NBA’s legendary center, Wilt Chamberlain, holds multiple records in the league but also claims the distinct recognition of being the first number to ever be retired by the Globetrotters.

In 1958, Chamberlain joined the Globetrotters while in college and continued to play with the team sparingly during NBA off seasons. He even made a trip to Moscow, Russia with the team as a gesture of good will. He described the excitement of playing with the Globetrotters in a past interview as “the most pleasant days of my life” and “a chance to see the world…learn and meet people.”

The accolades in the NBA are polarizing without any comparison, especially the 100-point game that still holds strong in the NBA record books. His career average of 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game put him in a class all of his own that no one is expected to touch in today’s game.

He earned the respect of everyone in the NBA regardless of stature. The league’s logo himself and a former teammate, Jerry West, gushed about the dominant big man in a statement following his death in 1999.

"“When I started to play with him, he helped make me a better player. We seemed to have a real good feel together, I think it translated into a confidence with him. All players are generally judged by the number of championships they won. Unfortunately, he only won two. His greatness as a basketball player can’t be questioned. He was fun, we used to laugh at him a lot, some of the things that would happen. I once told him, no one roots for Goliath.”"

Next: The 50 greatest NBA players of all time (updated, 2016-17)

Chamberlain is another perfect example of the importance of the Globetrotters and their influence on the NBA. The sounds of “Sweet Georgia Brown” will continue to entertain fans for generations to come.