The Harlem Globetrotters call out NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and demand that he grants them the ability to form a team within the league.
As stated by them, the Harlem Globetrotters are indeed, one of the most iconic band of basketball players in the history of the sport. Funnily enough, it’s reached this level of fame by not playing or even being associated with the NBA.
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Their flare coupled with the fact that they basically play each game like it’s a segment for an And-1 mixtape has drawn attention from millions of viewers across the globe, for nearly a century. Despite being around for as long as they have been the Harlem Globetrotters have never really indulged in professional play within leagues.
The only time they did so was in 1940 when they won the World Professional Basketball Tournament by beating the Chicago Bruins. Other than this, they’ve relegated themselves to putting on shows through exhibition games. In fact, their rotating roster of Globetrotters over the decades have performed at over 26,000 of such games.
The Harlem Globetrotters want to be a part of the NBA.
It seems as though the Harlem Globetrotters have grown tired of playing in exhibition games and not putting on a show with no real goal at the end of it all. So, they’ve decided to release a letter directed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to demand that an NBA expansion team be made for them.
“Based on what we’ve already proven, we can field a team of talent on par with the pros of today, and we want the chance to do that. As a world renowned and legendary professional basketball team, we petition Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA and the powers that be to grant The Original Harlem Globetrotters an NBA franchise. Not now, but right now!”
The Harlem Globetrotters want the NBA to grant them a franchise: https://t.co/LGTavgLojm
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) June 21, 2021
The NBA has shown interest for several years in wanting to expand from 30 teams, a number that’s remained stagnant ever since the Charlotte Hornets became a franchise in 2004. However, it’s highly unlikely that an, already established team that doesn’t represent a certain city would get an NBA team.
NBA teams are given to whole cities to increase fanbases and help viewership. There is no chance that Adam Silver and the league executives grant this request as the Harlem Globetrotters cannot simply represent an area in New York City.