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The Harlem Globetrotters will bring their signature blend of basketball showmanship and comedy to Türkiye next month as part of the team's 100th anniversary world tour, organizers announced Friday.
The American exhibition team will perform April 3 at Ülker Sports Arena in Istanbul and April 4 at Ankara Sports Hall, marking their return to the country after visiting in 2024. Tickets go on sale Sunday through Bilet, the local ticketing platform.
The centennial tour promises what organizers call "gravity-defying dunks," trick shots and family-friendly entertainment as the Globetrotters face their longtime comedic rivals, the Washington Generals. The shows will feature the team's trademark routines, including players spinning basketballs on their fingertips and executing acrobatic slam dunks.
Founded in 1926 in Chicago by Abe Saperstein, the Harlem Globetrotters began as a competitive barnstorming squad before evolving into global entertainers. The team has played more than 26,000 games across 124 countries, entertaining an estimated 148 million fans worldwide.
The U.S. State Department once dubbed them "Ambassadors of Goodwill" for their international outreach. The all-Black team broke racial barriers during the segregation era and has featured basketball legends including Wilt Chamberlain.
The Globetrotters have performed in Türkiye multiple times over the past decade, with documented visits in 2016, 2022 and 2024. Their March 2016 appearances at Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul and Ankara Arena drew sold-out crowds during the team's 90th anniversary tour.
In October 2022, the team returned to Istanbul's Ülker Sports Arena for two shows as part of their "Spread Game Tour," which incorporated Broadway-style production elements. Turkish social media users described the performances as "acrobatic basketball matches" that combined athletic skill with theatrical entertainment.
The team's growing presence in Türkiye reflects the country's increasing passion for basketball, with local media calling the upcoming centennial performances a "must-see" family event.
Each Globetrotters show features the team's "Magic Circle" warm-up routine and playful interactions with audience members. The performances blend elite basketball skills with comedic sketches, creating what the team describes as an experience unlike traditional sports events.
The Washington Generals, who have served as the Globetrotters' primary opponents for decades, play the role of hapless foils in carefully choreographed games that prioritize entertainment over competition.
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