The NBA, through its commissioner Adam Silver, has hinted before that expanding the league to more than 30 teams is on the table.
An organization has recently expressed its interest in joining the professional league.
The Harlem Globetrotters wrote a letter to Silver and the NBA governors explaining why the exhibition basketball team is the right choice for an expansion team now.
“Based on what we’ve already proven, we can field a team of talent on par with the pros of today, and we want the chance to do that,” wrote the Globetrotters. “As a world renowned and legendary professional basketball team, we petition Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA governors and the powers that be to grant The Original Harlem Globetrotters an NBA franchise. Not now, but right now!”
The Globetrotters were established back in 1926 — 20 years before the NBA was founded. They have played more than 26,000 exhibition games and entertained countless fans from 124 countries and territories.
Several NBA players have played for the Globetrotters before, the most notable of which is Wilt Chamberlain.
