Andrew Pace
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. They have performed unbelievable ball-handling, astounding trick shots, and entertaining moves for almost 100 years. The team was formed in 1926 on the South Side of Chicago and has played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries and territories, mostly against deliberately ineffective opponents. The Harlem Globetrotters are known for their impressive basketball skills and their ability to incorporate tricks and routines into their gameplay. In this discussion, we will explore the tricks and techniques that have made the Harlem Globetrotters a world-renowned and beloved basketball team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Years active | 99 years (since 1926) |
| Number of exhibition games | 26,000+ |
| Number of countries and territories visited | 124 |
| Opponents | Washington Generals (1953-1995, since 2015), New York Nationals (1995-2015), San Francisco Chinese Basketeers |
| Signature song | Whistled version of "Sweet Georgia Brown" by Brother Bones |
| Mascot | Anthropomorphized globe named "Globie" |
| Original players | Black American players from the South Side of Chicago |
| Former team names | Savoy Big Five, Globe Trotters, New York Harlem Globe Trotters |
| Reason for name | "Harlem" was the center of Black American culture; "Globetrotter" mythologized the team's international venues |
| Tournaments won | World Professional Basketball Tournament (1940) |
| Direction | Reece "Goose" Tatum, who joined in 1941, is credited with introducing comedic routines |
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Dribbling tricks
To perform dribbling tricks like the Harlem Globetrotters, there are several techniques to master. Firstly, balance is key when it comes to ball handling. Keep your body static but in an athletic position, and begin to move the ball around your body. Dribble with aggression, keeping the ball on the side of your foot, and focus on the bounce height – the sweet spot is between the hip and knee, as this keeps the ball close to the shot pocket.
You can then start to develop more complex dribbles, such as the crossover, behind the back, and between the legs. Practice with both hands, even if you are not comfortable with your non-dominant hand, as this will make you an all-around player. The more you practice, the more ball control you will have, and you can begin to develop combination dribbles to use in games.
Another dribbling technique is the pull dribble, which can be used to make defenders react. If they don't, try using a plyo step to move past them. If the defender squares up, step back and shoot, and if they overcommit, counter in the opposite direction.
One of the most impressive dribblers of the Harlem Globetrotters is Ant Atkinson. At 5'10", he is relatively low to the ground, which means he can dribble fast and make it hard for opponents to take the ball from him.
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Ball-handling skills
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team renowned for their impressive ball-handling skills, athleticism, and entertaining performances that combine theatre and comedy. Here are some ball-handling tricks and tips inspired by the Harlem Globetrotters:
Dribbling Drills:
Practice your dribbling skills by doing various dribbling drills. Start with basic drills like figure-eights and crossovers, and then progress to more advanced drills like dribbling with two balls simultaneously or dribbling while navigating through cones or obstacles. The Globetrotters are known for their fancy dribbling moves, so work on your ball control and dexterity.
Spin Moves:
Master the spin move, a signature Globetrotter trick. This involves dribbling the ball and then quickly spinning your body in a full circle while maintaining control of the ball. Practice spinning in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions to confuse defenders and showcase your ball-handling prowess.
Behind-the-Back Dribble:
Perfect the behind-the-back dribble, another classic Globetrotter move. This involves dribbling the ball with force behind your back and then catching it with the opposite hand. This move requires practice to perfect the timing and coordination needed to execute it smoothly.
Ball Control:
Work on your overall ball control by practicing dribbling at different speeds and in different directions. The Harlem Globetrotters are known for their ability to dribble effortlessly with both hands, so focus on developing ambidextrous ball-handling skills. Practice dribbling low to the ground and changing directions abruptly to keep defenders guessing.
Ball Protection:
The Harlem Globetrotters are adept at protecting the ball from defenders. Practice shielding the ball with your body and keeping it close to reduce the risk of turnovers. This involves using your arms and body positioning to create space and prevent defenders from reaching in for steals.
Passing Techniques:
While dribbling skills are essential, the Globetrotters also showcase precise passing. Work on your chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passes. Practice passing with a partner or against a wall to improve your accuracy and timing. The Globetrotters often use no-look passes and behind-the-back passes to surprise their opponents, so incorporate these into your repertoire as well.
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Trick shots
The Harlem Globetrotters are renowned for their trick shots, and you too can learn some of their iconic moves. One of the most well-known tricks is spinning the ball on one finger, which requires excellent balance and precision. To master this move, start by getting a feel for the ball and finding your balance. Place one finger in the centre of the ball and slowly build up speed as you spin the ball, keeping your finger in the same position. It is important to maintain a steady hand and a focused eye on the ball.
Another trick shot to try is the "Passback". This involves throwing the ball towards a wall or rebounder and catching it as it bounces back. The key to this trick is timing and predicting the trajectory of the ball. Practice makes perfect, so keep trying until you get a feel for the right force and angle needed.
If you want to take your trick shots to the next level, you can even try building your own trick shot machine, just like the Harlem Globetrotters! This involves creating a machine with various complications that move a basketball towards a hoop in a spectacular fashion. For example, one complication could be a hamster wheel powered by a person, which raises a pulley carrying a basketball to the next part of the machine. Get creative and experiment with different mechanisms to amaze your audience!
Finally, one of the most important and impressive skills to have is shooting. Learn from the Harlem Globetrotters by mastering the best hand positions, understanding the importance of rotation, and perfecting your wrist action. Practice different shooting techniques to improve your accuracy and consistency. Remember, it's all about muscle memory and repetition!
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Comedy routines
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their performances. Over the years, they have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 countries and territories, often against deliberately ineffective opponents.
The Globetrotters' comedy routines were first introduced by Reece "Goose" Tatum, who joined the team in 1941. The team became known more for entertainment than sports, with one spectator review noting, "This is not basketball; it is too full of tricks".
- Exaggerated Reactions: One player could exaggerate their reactions to simple actions, such as acting extremely frightened when an opponent makes a simple move or celebrating wildly after making an easy shot.
- Misdirection: The players could pretend to warm up, interacting with the crowd and acting as if they are about to start the game, only to reveal that they were just pretending and the real game has not started yet, leaving the crowd laughing and anticipating the actual start.
- Prop Comedy: Introduce a prop, such as a ridiculously oversized ball or a tiny hoop, and try to play with it, exaggerating their efforts and reactions to the challenges posed by the prop.
- Physical Comedy: Incorporate physical comedy into their routines, such as tripping over their own feet, accidentally bumping into each other, or pretending to be pulled by an invisible force when attempting to shoot.
- Interactive Routines: Get the crowd involved! For example, pretend to pull someone from the audience onto the court, only to reveal that it's a member of your team in disguise, or have a player mimic the referee's calls, making them increasingly ridiculous.
- Wordplay and Puns: If there's a microphone and a commentator, they could incorporate basketball-themed puns and wordplay into their commentary, with players acting out the puns for added effect.
These routines blend physical comedy, audience interaction, and creative use of props to engage and entertain audiences, a style that the Harlem Globetrotters have perfected over their long history.
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Basketball moves
The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. While they do perform impressive basketball moves, they are also known for their tricks and routines, often winning their games through these showy displays.
Some of the tricks the Harlem Globetrotters are known for include:
- Ball-handling skills: The Globetrotters are known for their impressive ball-handling skills, being able to dribble, spin, and manipulate the ball in creative and unexpected ways.
- Trick shots: They often attempt and make unlikely shots, such as shooting from long distances, using unconventional shooting methods, or incorporating props like balloons instead of basketballs.
- Dunks: The Globetrotters showcase impressive dunking abilities, combining athleticism and showmanship to excite the crowd.
- Comedy routines: They incorporate comedy into their performances, with players like Reece "Goose" Tatum credited for bringing humour to the team's act.
- Coordinated moves: The Harlem Globetrotters often showcase synchronised moves, with players working together to execute tricks and manoeuvres that showcase their teamwork and precision.
- Breaking the rules: In their exhibitions, the Globetrotters sometimes bend or break the rules of traditional basketball to surprise and entertain the audience, such as by interacting with the referees or their opponents.
While the Harlem Globetrotters are known for their tricks and entertainment value, it's important to note that they also possess strong basketball skills and have competed against other teams, including the Washington Generals and the New York Nationals. Their performances have inspired and brought joy to people around the world, showcasing their unique blend of basketball prowess and showmanship.
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Frequently asked questions
The Harlem Globetrotters originated in 1926 on the South Side of Chicago. They began as the Savoy Big Five, a basketball team of Black American players who played exhibitions to prop up the Savoy Ballroom's attendance numbers. In 1928, several players left the team and formed the "Globe Trotters". Abe Saperstein then became involved with the team, and by 1929 he was touring with his own basketball team called the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters". Saperstein selected the name "Harlem" because it was the centre of Black American culture at the time, and "Globetrotter" to mythologise the team's international venues.
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theatre, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. They are known for their impressive basketball moves, trick shots, and entertaining routines.
The Harlem Globetrotters always win their games, although there have been a few occasions where they have forgotten to score points because they were too busy showing off, and the opposing team won.
The Harlem Globetrotters usually play against deliberately ineffective opponents, such as the Washington Generals (1953-1995, since 2015) and the New York Nationals (1995-2015).
To learn basketball tricks like the Harlem Globetrotters, you can start by practising your ball-handling skills, working on your dribbling, and trying out different moves and tricks. You can also watch videos of the Harlem Globetrotters to get inspiration for new tricks and routines.
