Washington Generals
Perennial foils to the Harlem Globetrotters' act.
The Washington Generals are an American basketball team that serves as the regular opponent for the Harlem Globetrotters in exhibition games. Over the years, the team has also used various other names. Their main role is to be part of the Globetrotters’ show, acting as foils while the Globetrotters perform tricks and highlight their skills. The Generals try to play standard basketball, sometimes competing genuinely but also allowing the Globetrotters’ routines to unfold. Almost every game ends with a decisive Globetrotters victory, though the Generals’ players are skilled. A common feature of the act is the "guest General," where a local celebrity briefly joins the Generals on court. Multiple Generals teams can exist at once, each following a different touring Globetrotters squad.
For most of their history, the Generals were an independent franchise owned by founder Louis "Red" Klotz, who also played for the team. In 2017, the Globetrotters’ owners, Herschend, bought the Generals from the Klotz family and revived them after a two-year break.
The team was created in 1953 by Klotz, a former player for the Philadelphia Sphas, an ABL team that had been an exhibition rival of the Globetrotters. Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein asked Klotz to form a squad for tours, partly because the Sphas had beaten the Globetrotters more than once. The team was named the Washington Generals as a nod to General George Washington. To create variety, the Generals played under different names and uniforms. During the 1971–72 season, they alternated between the "Boston Shamrocks," "New Jersey Reds," "Baltimore Rockets," and "Atlantic City Seagulls." After a few seasons, they returned to the Generals identity full-time. In 1995, Klotz "disbanded" the Generals and formed the "New York Nationals," another nominal change. John Ferrari, Klotz’s son-in-law, became general manager in 1987.
After a 12-year hiatus, the team returned as the Generals on October 9, 2007, playing the Globetrotters at the 369th Harlem Armory, losing 54–50. Before the 2011–12 World Tour, they used the names "International Elite" and "Global Select." For the 2013–14 tour, they were the "World All-Stars." The Generals occasionally played other teams, winning competitive games against the Taiwanese national team and a low-level Red Army team.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1952
- Leagues
- Independent
- Dissolved
- 2015, reformed 2017
- Arena
- Barnstorming team
- Owner
- Herschend
- Coach
- Sam Worthen
- Gm
- Kenny Smith
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Generals were created in 1953 by Louis 'Red' Klotz, a former player for the Philadelphia Sphas, a former ABL team that became one of the Globetrotters' exhibition rivals. Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein had invited Klotz to create a squad to accompany his team on their tours, in part because the Sphas had beaten the Globetrotters on more than one occasion. With a nod to General George Washington, the team was named the Washington Generals.
The Generals remained a continuous presence in the Globetrotters act, but to give the illusion of variety they played under a variety of different names with changes of uniform. During the 1971–72 season, the Generals' name was alternated with the 'Boston Shamrocks', 'New Jersey Reds', 'Baltimore Rockets', and 'Atlantic City Seagulls'.
Reader's Guide
The Washington Generals are significant primarily as the designated foils for the Harlem Globetrotters, a role they have filled since 1952. Their function is to play a 'normal' game of basketball while the Globetrotters perform tricks and spectacular displays of skill. Almost every game has ended in a resounding win for the Globetrotters; overall, the Generals have lost to the Globetrotters more than 16,000 times while winning a mere 3 to 6 games. Despite their losses, the Generals' roster consists of competent players. A recurring part of the act is the 'guest General', where an invited person (usually a local celebrity) plays for the Generals for a short period. The Generals would occasionally play teams other than the Globetrotters, and among these competitive games they managed to record victories against the Taiwanese national team and a low-level Red Army team. Their legacy is that of a unique sports institution that exists not to win, but to help create entertainment. The 1971 win as the New Jersey Reds is the most storied, ending a 2,495-game losing streak; the crowd was reportedly dumbfounded and disappointed, with some children crying.
Did You Know?
- The Generals were named with a nod to Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- Playing as the New Jersey Reds on January 5, 1971, they won 100–99, ending a 2,495-game losing streak.
- The 50-year-old Louis 'Red' Klotz hit the winning basket in that 1971 victory.
- Very rarely, Washington Generals players have been 'promoted' to the Globetrotters, as with Derick 'Dizzy' Grant in 2010 and Jonte 'Too Tall' Hall in 2011.
More in Basketball teams in the United States 1-21
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