Harlem Globetrotters

Exhibition Basketball Team- Combines Athleticism, Theater, and Comedy

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Atlanta, GA, USA
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Harlem Globetrotters Biography

The Harlem Globetrotters are worldwide icons, synonymous with family entertainment and great basketball skills. The Globetrotters represent 90-plus years of breaking down barriers, acts of goodwill and a commitment to fans that goes beyond the game.

Abe Saperstein founded the team in 1926, and they played their first road game in Hinckley, Illinois, on Jan. 7, 1927. Since then, the Globetrotters have entertained more than 148 million fans in 123 countries and territories worldwide, introducing many to the sport of basketball. The team are pioneers in popularizing the slam dunk, the fast break, the forward and point guard positions, and the figure-eight weave. In 2010, the Globetrotters also introduced the first-ever 4-point shot, a shot located 30 feet from the basket – almost 7 feet beyond the NBA’s three-point arc.

In 1940, the Globetrotters won their first World Basketball Championship, defeating the Chicago Bruins. In 1948 and 1949, the Globetrotters stunned the world by twice defeating the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA. The Globetrotters were socially influential and quickly became recognized as the world’s best basketball team, showing that African-Americans could excel on a professional level.

The victories over the Lakers accelerated the integration of the NBA, as Globetrotter Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract when he joined the famed New York Knicks in 1950. The Globetrotters also embarked on their first-ever international tour in 1950, played before their largest crowd ever – 75,000 – at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium in 1951 and finished the decade with their first-ever trip to the Soviet Union in 1959.

The legendary Wilt Chamberlain was part of that historic Soviet Union tour, as the Hall of Famer played a full season with the Globetrotters in 1958-59. After starting his NBA career, he still played parts of several other seasons with the Globetrotters, joining the team when he could between NBA seasons. Chamberlain said that some of the most pleasant days of his life were playing for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Former Globetrotters player Mannie Jackson purchased the team in 1993, becoming the first African-American to own a major international sports and entertainment organization. He tripled the team’s revenue in three years and quadrupled its size in five. The team was also active in philanthropic efforts, with charitable contributions totaling more than $11 million under Jackson’s guidance.

Globetrotter Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson set a world record in 2000 by dunking on a 12-foot hoop at Final Four Weekend… a record that stands to this day, and one of 21 world records currently held by Globetrotters players.

The team cemented their standing as one of the world’s most influential basketball teams in 2002, receiving the sport's highest honor with induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Overall, there have been 13 people with ties to the Harlem Globetrotters inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

On Oct.1, 2013, the Globetrotters were purchased by Herschend Family Entertainment, the largest family-owned themed attractions company in the U.S., marking an expansion for the company into new media, audiences and markets.

Today, the Globetrotters continue to bring their entertainment to millions of fans around the world with more than 400 live events each year. Each Globetrotters game features some of the best athletes on the planet, unmatched fan interaction, incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks and side splitting comedy.

In all, close to 750 men and women have played for the world famous team, a team which has entertained popes, kings, queens, and presidents around the globe.

Off the court, the organization continues to evolve the company beyond its vibrant live event business by increasing alliances with global partners, developing a full line of licensed products, executing a multi-media strategy to gain worldwide saliency and continuing the brand’s legacy of deep social involvement in local communities.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/17/2024.

Harlem Globetrotters Videos

  • Best of the Harlem Globetrotters - Guinness World Records Day ...
    Subscribe to never miss a video! || https://gwr.co/YT-SubCheck out the GWR favourites! || http://gwr.co/YT-Favs▷ Order Guinness World ...
  • Oracle Arena Highlights | Harlem Globetrotters 2018 - YouTube
    We put on a show at the home of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors! This features highlights from the Globetrotters' 2018 "Amazing Feats ...
  • Amazing 583-Foot Basketball Shot | Harlem Globetrotters - YouTube
    For the first annual World Trick Shot Day, Harlem Globetrotter Buckets Blakes went 58 stories up on the Tower of the Americas in San Antonio ...

FAQs on booking Harlem Globetrotters

  • How do I book Harlem Globetrotters to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Harlem Globetrotters for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Harlem Globetrotters, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Harlem Globetrotters or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Harlem Globetrotters

    Speaking fees for Harlem Globetrotters, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Harlem Globetrotters are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Harlem Globetrotters, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Harlem Globetrotters speak about?

    Harlem Globetrotters is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Basketball, Sports.
  • Where does Harlem Globetrotters travel from?

    Harlem Globetrotters generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Harlem Globetrotters’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Harlem Globetrotters for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Harlem Globetrotters for your next private or corporate function.
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Harlem Globetrotters is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Harlem Globetrotters for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Harlem Globetrotters generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dominique Wilkins, Renee Montgomery, Lloyd Pierce, Jamal Anderson and Kordell Stewart. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Harlem Globetrotters for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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