Outlining the Future of the Harlem Globetrotters While Honoring its Roots

 

The role in which The Harlem Globetrotters played in the desegregation of sports, especially in the NBA, cannot be understated. In 1948 and 1949, The Globetrotters stunned the sports world by twice defeating the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA. Many of basketball’s most famous names, from Wilt Chamberlain to Fred’ Curly’ Neal and Meadowlark Lemon, all donned that renowned red, white, and blue uniform. Noted for their on-court stunts and humor, the Globetrotters have set their sites in a new direction—a desire to play in the NBA. Sunni Hickman, Vice President of Marketing & Sales for The Harlem Globetrotters, spoke to Game Changers about the Globetrotters’ ambitions for the future.

When Hickman looks back at the history, she sees a clear line from where basketball is today and the path the Harlem Globetrotters forged. “The style of it, the components that they innovated,” Hickman said. “Basketball is an avenue for so many people whether you’re on the court, coaching, or behind the scenes. They opened the door for that.”

It’s important to tell the history of the Globetrotters in a way that will resonate with the fans. Hickman noted that many of today’s fans might not know the rich history of the Globetrotters and how the audiences they played for back in the early days may have been the first time such a sports audience saw players of color in the game. “It’s important to connect those dots,” Hickman said.

And to secure that history and make memories for the next century of Globetrotters fans, Hickman said the goal is for the Harlem Globetrotters to be an official part of the NBA. With expansion team talk in the air, now could be the perfect time to make one of the world’s best-known basketball teams one of the NBA’s.

More Stories Like This:

The Latest Gaming Merger Firmly Establishes Dallas as an Esports Hub

MarketScale Original Series: Welcome to the Show

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Marketplace Inclusion
How TEKsystems Uses Marketplace Inclusion to Drive Equitable AI Adoption
July 16, 2025

As organizations race to integrate AI into every corner of business, an equally urgent conversation is emerging: How do we ensure this adoption doesn’t widen existing equity gaps? AI is both a disruptive force and an opportunity engine, as recent data shows that AI adoption among HR professionals jumped to 72 percent in 2025, up…

Read More
storytelling
The Secret to Brand Loyalty: Why Storytelling Is the Best Way to Be Heard in a Crowded Market
July 16, 2025

In today’s fast-evolving digital marketplace, attention is scarce, and trust even more so. In an era of remote work, AI-driven marketing, and constant digital noise, storytelling has emerged as one of the most powerful tools to cut through the clutter. In fact, research shows that people who used storytelling techniques to remember information recalled seven…

Read More
hospitality career development
Leaders Driving Hospitality Career Development Must Embrace Tech, Inclusion, and Risk
July 16, 2025

The hospitality industry is under mounting pressure to modernize to meet guest expectations for seamless, tech-driven experiences and also develop leaders who can drive that transformation. According to Rackspace Technology, only 28% of travel and hospitality companies qualify as “AI leaders”— those aligning strategy, compliance, and training with real-world deployment. Another 28% remain in…

Read More
HR compliance
Seeing What Others Miss: The Art of Problem Solving in HR Compliance
July 16, 2025

In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Andrea Kilburn, the HR EEO and Affirmative Action Compliance Manager at EssilorLuxottica. Andrea has built her career on problem-solving, advocacy, and the power of precise thinking. Andrea shares her unique path from mortgage underwriting to HR compliance, and…

Read More