Sonny Hill recalls a time when he and his childhood friend, Wilt Chamberlain, would go to the movies to watch newsreels where the Harlem Globetrotters often appeared. Seeing players like Reece “Goose” Tatum and Marques Haynes resonated with Chamberlain and sparked an ambition. The Globetrotters’ mission of breaking down racial barriers and stereotypes grabbed Chamberlain’s attention.
The Globetrotters’ entertainers were an inspiration to him, and their performances would later influence his own. He played 14 seasons in the NBA, but his stint with the Globetrotters was a significant part of his life. He played with the team for one season, 1958-59, and also made appearances during NBA off-seasons and after his retirement.
Chamberlain did not have the long tenure that some Globetrotters had, but he set a bar for the future of both the Globetrotters and the NBA, becoming a basketball and societal icon who bridged two entities.
When Chamberlain grew up, the Globetrotters were the team he wanted to identify with. He wanted to play for the Globetrotters. He felt it was a chance to become an entertainer, to show his skills, and to have fun. He began his professional career with the Globetrotters in 1958, joining the team on a world tour in Moscow. He played with them for three years, during which time he averaged 29.6 points and 18.9 rebounds per game.
Chamberlain fit in well with the Globetrotters’ style, participating in routines and developing his art of showmanship. He also saw how the Globetrotters could assist him in thinking outside the box, as a 7-foot-1, 275-pounder, he was expected to play center, but the Globetrotters saw him in a different light, playing him mostly on the outside.
Wilt Chamberlain then returned to the NBA, where he led the league in scoring for seven seasons and was the league’s rebounding leader for 11 of his 14 seasons. He won two league championships and was a four-time league MVP, but despite his impressive career, his stint with the Globetrotters remained an important part of his life.
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