This clip showcases just why Meadowlark Lemon, who passed away in 2015, is considered one of the most beloved Harlem Globetrotters.
Lemon was best known for his half-court shots as well as his pranks, the latter earning him the nickname “Clown Prince.” He also liked to play gags on the referees, tossing trick balls and pouring buckets of glitter over their heads. After 24 years and more than 16,000 games, Meadowlark Lemon was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
The Harlem Globetrotters started in the late 1920s, providing one of the only opportunities for black men to play professional basketball in the segregated United States. The National Basketball Association (NBA) began in 1946 but only allowed white athletes until 1950. Once the NBA began recruiting black players, the Globetrotters distinguished themselves with over-the-top plays, trick shots, and comedy to gain popularity in the 1960s and ’70s.
