Wilt Chamberlain, one of the most dominant players in NBA history, nearly turned his back on the professional basketball world for the allure of the Harlem Globetrotters. His brief time with the iconic exhibition team during his early career sparked a fascination that led him to seriously consider leaving the NBA.
Chamberlain’s time with the Globetrotters occurred before he fully cemented his legacy in the NBA. But it was during that period he experienced a style of basketball unlike anything in the professional world. The Globetrotters were famous for their entertaining and theatrical basketball, blending skillful plays with comedy and showmanship. For Wilt, who had grown up as a kid of color in a racially segregated America, the Globetrotters were more than just basketball players—they were larger-than-life figures, the closest thing to movie stars.
“I liked them so well that I did not want to come back and play in the NBA,” Wilt confessed in one of his final interviews. “You must understand, as a kid of color in those days, the Harlem Globetrotters were like being movie stars. You know, this was your dream.”
The mesmerizing charm of the Harlem Globetrotters, especially their famous showman, Meadowlark Lemon, captured Chamberlain’s imagination in a way few things did. Meadowlark, known for his dazzling half-court hook shots and comedic antics, was a basketball icon who stretched the boundaries of the game. Chamberlain, who had seen plenty of basketball greatness in his time, held Meadowlark in the highest regard. “Meadowlark was the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I’ve ever seen,” Wilt said. Despite the allure of NBA legends like Michael Jordan and Julius Erving, Chamberlain remained in awe of Lemon’s unique combination of athleticism and flair.
While Wilt Chamberlain’s time with the Globetrotters was relatively short, it nearly changed the course of his career. The Globetrotters, however, had dreams of their own. They had long hoped to be recognized by the NBA as a legitimate professional team, and in 2021, they took another step to make their case public. Through an open letter, the Globetrotters urged the NBA to officially welcome them into the league, reminding the organization of their past contributions to the sport.
Though the Globetrotters’ plea remains unanswered, their impact on basketball—both in the entertainment world and in the history of the game—is undeniable. The fantasy of Chamberlain swapping the NBA for the Globetrotters remains an intriguing “what if?” for fans, a glimpse into an alternate reality where basketball might have looked very different. But for now, both Chamberlain’s legacy in the NBA and the Globetrotters’ pursuit of NBA status remain iconic parts of basketball history.
