Lebron James
We start off the list with probably the craziest one of the five listed. You may not know this, but the Harlem Globetrotters actually tried (unsuccessfully obviously) to recruit Lebron James. The first instance was during the major free agency period of the summer of 2010, before Lebron had teamed up with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade. The Globetrotters in fact, tried to recruit both Lebron and Wade to join the team in 2010. The team didn’t outright offer Lebron or Wade any ownership in the franchise but were prepared to do so if negotiations with the pair gained traction. The second instance was in 2021, and the Globetrotters offered off the bat Lebron a stake in the team and guaranteed him a winning record.
Brittney Griner
Back in 2013, the Harlem Globetrotters selected Brittney Griner with the first pick of their draft. Were you even aware that the Harlem Globetrotters held an annual draft? The Globetrotters drafted her #1 in 2013, but Griner basically told the team, thanks but no thanks. The Globetrotters told her that their schedule wouldn’t conflict with any other basketball team’s schedule (meaning US or overseas team), but Griner was still not interested. Something interesting to note about the Harlem Globetrotters 2013 draft, they also selected the-then 43-year-old Yankees pitcher Mariano Riveria.
Bill Russell
After Bill Russell’s decorated career at USF (in which he averaged 20 points and 20 rebounds per game), Harlem Globetrotters founder and owner Abe Saperstein came looking for Russell in 1956. Saperstein (who had success in recruiting some of the best college basketball players at time) courted Russell in 1956 with the intentions of bringing Russell to join their exhibition team. Here is where it gets interesting: Russell had brought along his college coach to the meeting with Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein, but during the meeting, Saperstein would only negotiate with Russell’s coach. During that, Saperstein sent his assistant coach to engage and entertain Russell. Russell noticed that Saperstein would not speak to him directly about joining the team, and declined the Globetrotters offer and declared for the NBA draft instead.
Pete Maravich
After destroying the college competition and setting many scoring records in the process, the Pistol was recruited by the Globetrotters prior to declaring for the NBA draft. At the time, Maravich had competing offers from the NBA, the ABA and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Globetrotters offered Pete a million-dollar contract which would make him just the third white Harlem Globetrotter in franchise history. The Atlanta Hawks offered Pete $900,000 more than the Globetrotters did, and Pete decided to join the NBA ranks instead. The Pistol learned many drills and moves from former Harlem Globetrotter players, and today many Globetrotters cite Maravich as one of their key basketball inspirations.
Booger Smith
Back in 2001, around the same time that certain NBA franchises were looking at the NYC streetball legend, the Harlem Globetrotters were interested in offering Booger Smith a full contract. Booger was by many accounts, the perfect player to join the Globetrotters. He was super quick, could pass the ball with the best of them, and also possessed some of the greatest handles in the world. Many scouts at the time felt that Booger was good enough to join the NBA. Booger was also being looked at by many overseas basketball club teams. Unfortunately, he was arrested for gun possession after an auto accident and his NBA dreams and other basketball opportunities were gone for good.