SPRINGFIELD — As the country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, the Harlem Globetrotters are having a big celebration of their own.
When the popular wizards of basketball appear at the MassMutual Center on Dec. 29, it will be part of their worldwide centennial tour that began on Dec. 14 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The tour features a newly reimagined show that will feature never-before-seen basketball tricks and special features integrated into the game for the centennial season only.
Showtime is 7 p.m.
The team will debut their new 100-year jerseys designed by fashion artist Jeff Hamilton, honoring a century of global impact, as they face off against their longtime rivals, the Washington Generals. Fans can also expect all-new surprises like the Golden Basketball by Spalding, a pre-game Magic Pass experiences, a 100-year Souvenir Ticket, and many other fun surprises for fans.
The new Magic Pass, priced at $34, which requires the purchase of a ticket to the main game, gets you 30 minutes on the hardwood with both Globetrotters and Generals players beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dribble, pass, and shoot in the all-new Play with a Pro Challenge, and then capture your Magic Circle Moment — the only place where fans can learn signature tricks from the team.
The Harlem Globetrotters were founded in 1926 by Abe Saperstein and in 1927 played their first road game in Hinckley, Illinois. Over the years, they’ve truly earned the title of “globetrotters,” entertaining more than 148 million fans in 124 countries and territories worldwide. In 1948 and 1949, the Globetrotters twice defeated the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA. The Globetrotters quickly became recognized as the world’s best basketball team, showing that African Americans could excel at the sport on a professional level.
They are known for popularizing the slam dunk, the fast break, the forward and point guard positions, and the figure-eight weave. In 2010, the Globetrotters introduced the first-ever four-point shot, a shot located 30 feet from the basket — almost 7 feet beyond the NBA’s three-point arc. The Globetrotters’ contributions to the game of basketball were recognized in 2002 with the sport’s highest honor —induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, where the sport was invented.
Ticket prices start at $34 and range upwards to $376 for the VIP Bench Experience with either the Globetrotters or Generals, but there are only eight seats available on the bench with them, so this offer will likely sell out early. There is also an additional Celebrity Court Pass for $106, offering ticketholders the opportunity to watch the players warm up.
You can also upgrade your ticket for an additional $81 to include a limited-edition 100 Year Golden Replica Game Ball by Spalding. For an additional $17, you can purchase a 3D-printed Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour Souvenir Ticket with a black lanyard.
Following the Globetrotters’ triumphant appearance at Madison Square Garden, and while waiting for his connection at an airport, guard Lucius “Too Tall” Winston took time to answer a few questions for The Republican.
Q: What led to your career on the court with the Harlem Globetrotters?
A: I became a Globetrotter on Oct. 9, 2017. I played basketball in high school and in college at Tuskegee University, where I earned my degree in business. In 2017, I did a movie called “Uncle Drew” with Kyrie Irving. I got a chance to hang out with Kyrie, and we played pickup basketball. A Globetrotter was there and I was shooting the ball extremely well. He asked me if I played professionally and I told him I did overseas and was just waiting for my next gig. Then I received a call on Oct. 3 to come back to Atlanta to try out for the team.
Q: How does it feel to be part of the Globetrotter’s 100 Year Tour?
A: Beginning as the Savoy Big Five playing at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago, Abe Saperstein [the founder who later changed their name to the Harlem Globetrotters] had an idea, and I hope and pray that we are continuing his vision from 1926 into 2026. It is just amazing, when you think about all the players who came before us — people like Meadowlark Lemon, Sweet Lou Dunbar, Curly Neal, and Lynette Woodard who was the first woman to ever play for a men’s profession basketball team — and I just hope we are making them proud, because if it wasn’t for them paving the way for us, we wouldn’t be here. And I want to continue that legacy to play high quality basketball, inspiring kids, and creating memories for fans who come to see us play.
Q: You are 5′10″ and have been given the nickname “TooTall.” How did that come about and how did it inspire you and your message to kids?
A: The name “Too Tall” came from high school, where I had a coach tell me at 15 years old that I was too short to ever play college or professional basketball. That lit a fire under me to practice every single day. I always tell kids to shoot for the moon, if you miss it, you will hit the stars. Nobody can tell you that you can’t do something in life. Whatever you want to be in life, you can do it if you work hard, you’re consistent, and you respect people, because at the end of the day, that is all that really matters.
Q: What is your favorite move/trick on the court?
A: It’s definitely the 2-ball spin. I have two basketballs spinning on my right and left hands and I take them around the world and end with one of the basketballs spinning on top of the other. I learned the trick from my teammate Scooter Christensen after joining the Globetrotters. He is now one of our coaches. As a kid, the first trick I wanted to learn was the 2-ball spin after seeing Scooter do it, not how to pass or dribble. And when I became a Globetrotter, I told him, “You’ve got to teach me all the tricks and everything that you know.” So, a shoutout to Coach Scooter.
Q: How is it to face the Washington Generals? The last time you lost to them was in 1971.
A: We are always coming up with new tricks and sharpening our skills in the gym at least four to five times a week. But the Washington Generals definitely make it tough on us every single game because they can really shoot the basketball. They’re athletic, quick and fierce when out on the floor. And they just keep coming back for more. So, I appreciate them for the challenge they always present to us on the court.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.masslive.com ’
