February 03, 2022
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The Harlem Globetrotters decided to take on a challenge unlike any other, attempting 22 world records in only two days including the Farthest basketball bounce shot, Most blindfolded basketball slam dunks in one minute, and Farthest behind-the-back basketball alley-oop slam dunk.
The inspiration for this record challenge and for our 2022 “Spread Game” tour came from a desire to honor the late and great Globetrotters’ legend Frederick “Curly” Neal. Curly passed away in March 2020, just days after the team completed its most recent US Tour.
Curly played 22 seasons wearing #22, so it was clear to us that kicking off 2022 with a celebration concentrated on this significant number was the perfect way to commemorate his legacy.
“When you think of the Harlem Globetrotters, the first name that comes to mind is Curly Neal. He is one of the legends, he is one of my favorites of all time.” - Corey “Thunder” Law (USA)
Following two days filled with drive, skill, celebration, defeat, support, and endless passion, the Harlem Globetrotters successfully achieved 18 out of the 22 records attempted, with official adjudicators Chrissy Fernandez and Andy Glass on-site.
One particularly special moment took place when Pawel “Dazzle” Kidon (Poland), the first Polish Harlem Globetrotter and only foreign player on the team, broke the record for the most consecutive catches of a spinning basketball with 26 spins and was met with a raucous cheer from his teammates. Emotions running high, Dazzle beamed as he called his family in Poland to share the news.
While every record title held importance, there was one that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Unsuccessfully attempting to achieve this record for the last couple of years, Rock “Wham” Middleton (USA) decided to go for most basketball bounces in one minute once again.
After a careful slow-motion review from adjudicator Chrissy Fernandez, it was confirmed that Wham’s 708 bounces broke the long-sought-after record. It was an incredible moment to witness.
“No matter what you want to do you have to put in the hours, the minutes, the seconds. And never give up on your dreams. It is not what you do in front of people, it is what you do when no one is looking” - Rock “Wham” Middleton (USA)
The moment before Donte “Hammer” Harrison (USA) sunk the farthest basketball off-the-wall bounce shot (34 ft 3.7 in) you could have heard a pin drop. As soon as it was clear that the ball had perfectly ricocheted off the wall into the net, the silence broke into an eruption of cheers echoing across LakePoint Champions Center.
“I remember being a kid and always opening up the Guinness World Records books and [I] thought, that was something, that was like unattainable, but to be here with the Globetrotters and break a couple of records myself, it is an honor to be inside that book!” - Donte “Hammer” Harrison (USA)
Needless to say, Curly would be extremely proud.
Check out the full video on the Harlem Globetrotters’ official YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/pDLMrNQ1mL8
Here are the latest records added to the Harlem Globetrotters’ history-making roster:
Farthest basketball bounce shot
The farthest basketball bounce shot is 28.56 m (93 ft 8.5 in), and was achieved by Corey “Thunder” Law (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA on 6 December 2021.
Most basketball underhanded half-court shots in one minute
The most basketball underhanded half-court shots in one minute is 7, and was achieved by Rock “Wham” Middleton (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Farthest basketball hook shot
The farthest basketball hook shot is 22.80 m (74 ft 9.74 in), and was achieved by Rock “Wham” Middleton (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Farthest basketball off-the-wall bounce shot
The farthest basketball off-the-wall ounce shot is 10.46 m (34 ft 3.7 in), and was achieved by Donte “Hammer” Harrison (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Farthest behind-the-back basketball alley-oop slam dunk
The farthest behind-the-back basketball alley-oop slam dunk is 15.60 m (51 ft 2.05 in), and was achieved by Rock “Wham” Middleton and Chandler “Bulldog” Mack (both USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Most basketball alley-oop slam dunks in one minute
The most basketball alley-oop slam dunks in one minute is 13, and was achieved by Donte “Hammer” Harrison and Corey “Thunder” Law (both USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Most consecutive basketball alley-oop slam dunks
The most consecutive basketball alley-oop slam dunks is 24, and was achieved by Julian “Zeus” McClurkin and Lucius “Too Tall” Winston (both USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Most consecutive catches of a spinning basketball
The most consecutive catches of a spinning basketball is 26, and was achieved by Pawel “Dazzle” Kidon (Poland) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 6 December 2021.
Farthest under the legs basketball shot
The farthest under the legs basketball shot is 19.43 m (63 ft 9.13 in), and was achieved by Corey “Thunder” Law (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Farthest windmill basketball shot
The farthest windmill basketball shot is 14.10 m (46 ft 3 in), and was achieved by Donte “Hammer” Harrison (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Most basketball layups in one minute
The most basketball layups in one minute is 22, and was achieved by Lucius “Too Tall” Winston (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Most blindfolded basketball slam dunks in one minute
The most blindfolded basketball slam dunks in one minute is 9, and was achieved by Julian “Zeus” McClurkin (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Farthest basketball alley-oop slam dunk
The farthest basketball alley-oop slam dunk is 30.42 m (99 ft 9.6 in), and was achieved by Corey “Thunder” Law and Donte “Hammer” Harrison (both USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Fastest time between baselines dribbling a basketball
The fastest time between baselines dribbling a basketball is 3.529 sec, and was achieved by Rock “Wham” Middleton (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Most basketball bounces between the legs in one minute
The most basketball bounces between the legs in one minute is 360, and was achieved by Rock “Wham” Middelton (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Most basketball bounces in one minute
The most basketball bounces in one minute is 762, and was achieved by Rock “Wham” Middleton (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Most behind-the-back basketball three pointers in one minute
The most behind-the-back basketball three pointers in one minute is 4, and was achieved by Julian “Zeus” McClurkin (USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
Most basketball three pointers made by a pair in one minute (*tied this GWR title)
The most basketball three pointers made by a pair in one minute is 23, and was achieved by Justin Dargahi and Teddy Dupay (both USA) in Tampa, Florida, USA on 22 March 2017. The record was equaled by Rock “Wham” Middleton and Lucius “Too Tall” Winston (both USA) of the Harlem Globetrotters at LakePoint Champions Center in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, on 7 December 2021.
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